Pope Backs More Collaboration With World Council of Churches

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 14, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI announced his intention to promote more effective collaboration with the World Council of Churches in order to proclaim the love of God.

The Pope affirmed this in the message he sent to Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, on the occasion of the 9th General Assembly of the Geneva-based World Council of Churches.

The assembly, which started today in Porto Alegre, Brazil, ends Feb. 23.

"Mindful of our shared baptismal faith in the Triune God," says the Holy Father in his message, written in English, "the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches seek ways to cooperate ever more effectively in the task of witnessing to God's divine love."

"After forty years of fruitful collaboration," which began in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, "we look forward to continuing this journey of hope and promise, as we intensify our endeavors towards reaching that day when Christians are united in proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation to all," the Pope adds.

3,000 to attend

Cardinal Kasper is attending the international assembly of the most important governmental body of the World Council of Churches which meets every seven years.

The theme of the Porto Alegre meeting is "God in Your Grace, Transform the World."

Three thousand people are attending the meeting in Brazil, including more than 700 official delegates representing the 340 churches and ecclesial communities affiliated with the World Council. Delegates from organizations associated with the World Council, and non-affiliated churches, are also attending.

One of the assembly's main tasks will be to appoint the members of the new central committee. This panel will oversee implementation of World Council activities until the next assembly in 2013.

Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is heading the official Catholic delegation, made up of 18 members who will act as observers. Among them are representatives from the Roman Curia, bishops' conferences and lay movements, as well as religious superiors.

The Catholic Church is not a member of the World Council of Churches, though it collaborates with the organization in various ways, particularly the search for Christian unity, through common study and reflection.

Providence

Last June 16, Benedict XVI received the Reverend Samuel Kobia, secretary-general of the World Council of Churches, who visited the Holy Father at the start of his pontificate and informed him about preparations for this meeting.

In his letter, the Holy Father said: "As we together make this journey, we must be open to the signs of divine Providence and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, for we know that 'the holy objective of reconciling all Christians in the unity of the one and the only Church of Christ transcends human powers and gifts' ('Unitatis Redintegratio,' 24)."

The Bishop of Rome added: "As we ask God in his grace to transform the world, we pray that he will bless our ecumenical dialogue with the progress we so ardently desire."

The message concluded: "Assuring you of my spiritual closeness and reaffirming the Catholic Church's intention to continue a solid partnership with the World Council of Churches in its important contribution to the ecumenical movement, I invoke God's abundant blessings of peace and joy upon all of you."