SECOND SESSION OF THE XVI ORDINARY ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
ECUMENICAL VIGIL
SERMON OF POPE FRANCIS
Square of the Protomartyrs
Friday, October 11, 2024
[Multimedia]
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“I have given them the glory that you gave me” (Joh 17.22). These words from the prayer that Jesus said before his Passion can be particularly applied to the martyrs who were glorified because of their witness for Christ. In this place we remember the first martyrs of the Church in Rome: on their blood this basilica was built, on their blood the church was built. May these martyrs strengthen us in the certainty that as we draw closer to Christ, we also draw closer to one another. We are supported by the prayer of all the saints of our churches, who are already completely united through their participation in the Paschal Mystery. Like the decree Reintegration of the unitwhose 60th anniversary we are celebrating, states The closer Christians are to Christ, the closer they are to one another (see No. 7).
On this day, as we commemorate the opening of the Second Vatican Council, which marks the official entry of the Catholic Church into the ecumenical movement, we are gathered with the brothers and sisters delegates of the other churches. That is why I adopt the words of St. John XXIII. addressed the observers at the opening of the Council: “Your esteemed presence and the emotion that fills my heart as a priest, as a bishop of the Church of God […]lead me to entrust to you the longing of my heart, which burns with the desire to work and suffer for the approach of the hour when Christ’s prayerful desire at the Last Supper will be fulfilled for all” (October 13, 1962). Let us enter into this prayer of Jesus, which is accompanied by the prayer of the martyrs, and let us make it our own in the Holy Spirit.
Christian unity and synodality are linked. Indeed, if “the path of synodality is the path that God expects of the Church of the third millennium” (Address on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Synod of BishopsOctober 17, 2015), then it must be walked with all Christians. »The path of synodality […] must be ecumenical, just as the ecumenical path is synodal” (Address to His Holiness Mar Awa III.November 19, 2022). Both processes are not so much about creating something, but rather about accepting and making fruitful the gift we have already received. And what does the gift of unity look like? The synodal experience helps us to discover some aspects of this.
Unity is a grace, a unpredictable gift. The real protagonist is not us, but the Holy Spirit, who leads us to a deeper community. Just as we do not know in advance what the outcome of the Synod will be, we also do not know exactly what the unity to which we are called will look like. The Gospel tells us that Jesus, in his high priestly prayer, “lifted up his eyes to heaven”: unity is not primarily a fruit of earth, but of heaven. It is a gift whose timing and manner we cannot foresee; we must accept them “without placing any obstacle in the way of the ways of Providence and without anticipating the future suggestions of the Holy Spirit”, as again in the Council Decree (UR, 24) is called. Father Paul Couturier used to say that one should pray for Christian unity “as Christ wants it” and “by the means he wants.”
Another lesson that emerges from the synodal process is that unity is a way: It matures in the movement, on the way. It grows in mutual service, in the dialogue of life, in the cooperation of all Christians, which “makes the face of Christ, the Servant of God, appear in a clearer light” (UR12). But we have to walk according to the Spirit (cf. Gal 5:16-25); or, as St. Irenaeus says, as adelphon synodíaas “a caravan of brothers and sisters.” The connection between Christians grows and matures through pilgrimage together “according to the rhythm of God”, as was the case with the pilgrims of Emmaus who traveled with the risen Jesus.
A third lesson is: Unity is harmony. The Synod is currently helping us to rediscover the beauty of the Church in the diversity of her faces. In this way, unity is not uniformity, nor is it the result of compromise or balancing acts. The unity of Christians is harmony in the diversity of charisms that the Holy Spirit brings forth for the edification of all Christians (cf. UR4). Harmony is the way of the spirit, because, as St. Basil says, it is harmony (cf. Homily on Psalm 29.1). We must walk the path of unity out of love for Christ and for all the people we are called to serve. Let us never let difficulties stop us on this path! Let us trust in the Holy Spirit, who urges us toward a unity that is a harmony of colorful diversity.
And finally, the unity of Christians, like synodality, is necessary for their witness: Die Unity serves the mission. “Let all be one… that the world may believe” (Joh 17.21). This was the conviction of the Council Fathers when they stated that our division “is a stumbling block to the world and a detriment to the holy cause of proclaiming the Gospel to all creatures” (UR, 1). The ecumenical movement arose from the desire to bear witness together, together with others and not separately from one another or, worse still, against one another. In this place, the proto-martyrs remind us that today in many parts of the world Christians of different faith traditions give their lives together for the faith in Jesus Christ and thus one Ecumenism of the blood life. Your testimony is stronger than any word, because unity comes from the Cross of the Lord.
Before we began this meeting, we held a repentance ceremony. Today we also want to express our shame for the scandal of division among Christians, for the scandal that we do not bear witness together to Jesus our Lord. This synod is an opportunity to improve that and to break down the walls that still exist between us. Let’s focus on those common ground ours common baptismwhich encourages us to become missionary disciples of Christ, with a joint mission. The world needs a common witness, it is important for the world that we share ours joint mission stay loyal.
Dear brothers and sisters, before the cross, Saint Francis of Assisi received the call to rebuild the Church. May the Cross of Christ also guide us every day on our path to full unity, in harmony with one another and with all creation, “for God wanted to dwell in him with all his fullness, so that through him he could reconcile everything to him. He wanted to lead everything in heaven and on earth to Christ, who made peace on the cross through his blood” (Kol 1,19-20).
