VATICAN - Pope Leo XIV: "My priority is that of seeking the re-establishment of full and visible communion among Christians"

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "I seek the re-establishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," as well as reaffirming “no” to war and the arms race among the "primary tasks of the Bishop of Rome." Pope Leo XIV stated this during an audience with representatives of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities and other religions who participated in the celebration of his inauguration as Bishop of Rome and Successor of Peter (see Fides, 18/5/2025).


Among them were the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, Theophilus III, and the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Awa III. The Pope addressed them, saying: "Your presence and your prayers are a great comfort and encouragement to me."

Pope Leo XIV recalled his predecessor's commitment to ecumenism, noting that his election "came at a time when the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea is celebrating its 1700th anniversary." A council which, as the Pope emphasized, represents "a milestone in the formulation of the Creed shared by all Churches and Ecclesial Communities." "While we are on the journey to re-establishing full communion among all Christians, we recognise that this unity can only be unity in faith. As Bishop of Rome, I consider one of my priorities to be that of seeking the re-establishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

The pursuit of unity, the Pope stated, "has always been a constant concern of mine, as witnessed by the motto I chose for my episcopal ministry: In Illo uno unum, an expression of Saint Augustine of Hippo that reminds us how we too, although we are many, “in the One — that is Christ — we are one” (Enarr. in Ps. 127:3). What is more, our communion is realised to the extent that we meet in the Lord Jesus."

"The more faithful and obedient we are to him, the more united we are among ourselves. We Christians, then, are all called to pray and work together to reach this goal, step by step, which is and remains the work of the Holy Spirit," the Pope continued, adding: "Our common path can and must also be understood in the broad sense of involving everyone. Now is the time for dialogue and building bridges."

He therefore expressed gratitude for the presence of representatives of other religious traditions "who share the search for God and his will, which is always and only the will of love and life for men and women and for all creatures." They "have witnessed the remarkable efforts made by Pope Francis in favour of interreligious dialogue."

Pope Leo addressed a special thought to his "Jewish brothers and sisters" and quoted the Conciliar Declaration Nostra Aetate (number 4), emphasizing: "Theological dialogue between Christians and Jews remains ever important and close to my heart. Even in these difficult times, marked by conflicts and misunderstandings, it is necessary to continue the momentum of this precious dialogue of ours."

The Bishop of Rome paid particular attention to his "Muslim brothers and sisters," recalling that "relations between the Catholic Church and Muslims have been marked by a growing commitment to dialogue and fraternity." Again citing Nostra Aetate, Leo XIV affirmed that an approach "based on mutual respect and freedom of conscience, is a solid foundation for building bridges between our communities."

In conclusion, the Pope expressed his gratitude for the contribution of all "religious traditions" to peace. "In a world wounded by violence and conflict, each of the communities represented here brings its own contribution of wisdom, compassion and commitment to the good of humanity and the preservation of our common home. I am convinced that if we are in agreement, and free from ideological and political conditioning, we can be effective in saying “no” to war and “yes” to peace, “no” to the arms race and “yes” to disarmament, “no” to an economy that impoverishes peoples and the Earth and “yes” to integral development," the Pope concluded. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 19/5/2025)

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