VATICAN - THE POPE SAYS AT ANGELUS: “IN A WORLD THIRSTING FOR PEACE, IT IS URGENT FOR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES TO UNITE TO ANNOUNCE THE GOSPEL TOGETHER. IT IS INDISPENSABLE FOR THEM TO BEAR WITNESS TO DIVINE LOVE WHICH UNITES THEM AND FOR THEM TO BE BEARERS OF JOY, HOPE AND PEACE

Monday, 19 January 2004

Vatican City (Fides Service) – A heartfelt call to “pray intensely” for full unity among Christians of different confessions “meditating on the Gospel’s gift of peace and the duties it involves” was launched by Pope John Paul II at midday on Sunday 18 January. “My peace I give you. These words of Jesus taken from the Gospel of Saint John (cfr 14,27), are the theme of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which starts today. It is significant that the theme was proposed by the Churches of the Middle East where unity and peace are priorities” the Holy Father said before leading the prayer of the Angelus.
All over the world this week “Christians of different confessions and traditions will come together to pray intensely to the Lord to strengthen their commitment for full unity. They will do so starting from the riches of the significance contained in Christ’s promise, meditating, day after day on the Gospel’s gift of peace and the duties it involves”. John Paul II than recalled that separation of Christians is “a painful proof”: “This is why they feel the urgent need to turn to their One Lord that he may help them overcome the temptation of discouragement along the difficult path leading to full communion. In a world thirsting for peace it is in fact urgent for Christian communities to announce the Gospel together. It is indispensable for them to bear witness to Divine Love which unites them, for them to be bearers of joy, hope and peace and become leaven of a new humanity.”
After the Angelus prayer the Pope voiced special greetings to the people of the Far East, “the great peoples of the east - Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans - who will soon celebrate Lunar New Year ”, and he assured them of his thoughts and prayers and wishes for serenity of heart and prosperity in the new year. (S.L.) (Fides Service 19/1/2004 – lines 24; words 329)


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