Pope to Finnish ecumenical group: The saints are a source of unity
By Joseph Tulloch
Every year, Pope Francis welcomes an ecumenical delegation from Finland – comprised of Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox – to the Vatican.
This year’s visit, which took place, as always, during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, involved an exchange of gifts and reflections.
The saints as source of unity
Pope Francis began by thanking the Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Åstrand “most heartily” for his reflection, “with its mention of the witness of the saints and its broad ecumenical spirit.”
He said that, upon listening to it, he had “thanked God”, since “there have been times when the veneration of saints appeared to be a source of division rather than of unity.”
The Pope noted that the Finnish delegation had mentioned “some of the great Nordic saints: Birgitta, Henrik and Olav”, suggesting that “if the millennium of Saint Olav’s death in 2030 can inspire and deepen our prayer for unity, and our journey together, this will prove a gift to the entire ecumenical movement.”
A pilgrim Church
Pope Francis also noted that he had been struck by Bishop Åstrand’s reflections on “the importance of journeying”, and “the pilgrim Church.”
“As members of the community of the baptized,” the Pope said, “we are indeed on a journey, with Jesus Christ as our common goal.”
“That goal is not far distant or unattainable,” he stressed, “for in his mercy our Lord has come down to meet us.”
“He drew near to us in the Incarnation and made himself the Way, so that we might journey safely amid the crossroads and false paths that confront us in this world.”
An ecumenism of the poor and forgotten
The Pope went on to thank the Finnish delegation for their presence, saying that “this meeting with you is a living sign in the midst of the present Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.”
“Let us ensure,” he added, “that this annual ecumenical encounter continues to flourish and expand.”
Pope Francis stressed in particular the importance of always "welcoming our poor and forgotten brothers and sisters" during the Week of Prayer, including "those who feel abandoned by God or have strayed from the path of faith and hope.”
The Pope brought his address to an end by inviting those present to recite the Lord’s Prayer together, each in their own native language.
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