CHRISTIAN UNITY ESSENTIAL TO PROCLAIMING CHRIST TO THE WORLD

VATICAN CITY, APR 22, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning welcomed 85 participants in a meeting of The Bible Societies and remarked that the Societies "exist to open the inexhaustible riches of Sacred Scripture to all who will listen, and that is a noble Christian service, for which I give thanks to God."

He noted that "for many years your Societies have been engaged in translating and distributing the text of Scripture, an essential part of proclaiming Christ to the world. For it is not just words which we must speak: it is the Word of God Himself!"

"The urgency of this task," the Pope stated, "demands that we commit ourselves to the cause of Christian unity, for division among the disciples of Christ has certainly impaired our mission. Your meeting therefore draws together members of different Churches and Ecclesial Communities. ... Whatever differences remain between us, the promotion of the Bible is one point where Christians can work closely together for the glory of God and the good of the human family."

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