VATICAN - Pope Francis: "Mission is not only the goal of the ecumenical journey, it is also its means"

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "Mission is not only the goal of the ecumenical journey, it is also its means" said Pope Francis during the audience for the members of the Holy Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church, who refer to the historical story of the "Christians of Saint Thomas" who trace their origins back to the missionary work of Saint Thomas the Apostle.

Today's meeting is of historic importance: it is the first time that the Holy Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church has visited the Church of Rome to meet with its bishop in the sign of peace.

Recalling the visit of the Assyrian Patriarch Mar Awa III, which took place last Saturday in the same hall in the Vatican (see Fides, 9/11/2024), the Pope reminded those present that the common witness of the Risen Christ is, for Christians who are separated, "the best way to bring us closer to one another".

In a reflection on mission, synodality and ecumenism, the Pope also mentioned the proposal contained in the final document of the recent World Synod for an "Ecumenical Synod on Evangelization", in which "everyone will work together". Such a Synod, the Bishop of Rome stressed, "will help to guarantee, through prayer, reflection and our common commitment, a better Christian witness".
For the Pope, "synodality is inseparable from ecumenism, for both are based on the one Baptism we have received and on the sensus fidei in which all Christians share by virtue of Baptism itself." "I am sure that your Church can help us on this journey of ecumenical synodality," the Pope added, before quoting "the great theologian Zizioulas." He means Ioannis Zizioulas, the Orthodox Metropolitan of Pergamon and theologian who died in February 2023.

His theology starts from the recognition that the entire reality and life of the Church has its origin in the sacrament of the Eucharist, celebrated by the ecclesial community gathered around its bishop. His theological reflections, which began in the 1990s, were the most important contribution to the attempt to find consensus between Orthodox and Catholics on the doctrine of primacy and the role of the Bishop of Rome.

"He was a great man, a man of God," the Pope noted, quoting his words: "'He said: “I know the date when there will be full unity between the Churches”. What is the date? “The day after the Last Judgement”." “But, in the meantime we must walk together, pray together and work together”. All together, " the Pope said.

"Walk together," Pope Francis concluded, "so that the world believes. I am sure that the Church of St. Thomas, which carries within itself this missionary dimension, can contribute a lot to this". (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 11/11/2024)

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