Vatican
City, 5 September 2013 (VIS) - “Through you, I greet a Church that
was founded upon the witness, even to martyrdom, that Saint Thomas
gave to Our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostolic fraternity which united
the first disciples in their service of the Gospel, today also unites
our Churches, notwithstanding the many divisions that have arisen in
the sometimes sad course of history, divisions which, thanks be to
God, we are endeavouring to overcome in obedience to Lord’s will
and desire”.
With
these words, Pope Francis received His Holiness Baselios Marthoma
Paulose II, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of
India, who fronts a delegation visiting Rome in these days in order
to pray before the tomb of St. Peter, part of a longer trip in
Europe. The Pope retraced the history of the relations between
Catholics and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church over the last
thirty years, recalling that from these encounters there “began a
concrete path of dialogue with the institution of a mixed commission,
which brought to birth the agreement of 1990, on the day of
Pentecost, a commission which continues its important work and which
has brought us to significant steps on themes such as the common use
of buildings of worship and cemeteries, the mutual concession of
spiritual and even liturgical resources in specific pastoral
situations, and the necessity to identify new forms of collaboration
when faced with growing social and religious challenges”.
“I
wanted to recall some of the steps in these 30 years of the growing
closeness between us, because I believe that on the ecumenical path
it is important to look with trust to the steps that have been
completed, overcoming prejudices and closed attitudes which are part
of a kind of 'culture of clashes' and source of division, and giving
way to a 'culture of encounter', which educates us in mutual
understanding and in working towards unity. Alone however, this is
impossible; our weaknesses and poverty slow the progress. For this
reason, it is important to intensify our prayer. ... Prayer and
commitment in order to let relationships of friendship and
co-operation grow at various levels, in the clergy, among the
faithful, and among the various churches born from the witness given
by St Thomas. May the Holy Spirit continue to enlighten us and guide
us towards reconciliation and harmony, overcoming all causes of
division and rivalry which have marked our past”.
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