To close the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of Second Vespers on the Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle.
Joining the Pope in the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Wall in Rome were cardinals, bishops and representatives from other religious communities, including Metropolitan Polykarpos, Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Archbishop Ian Ernest, Personal Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome.
In his homily, Pope Francis focused on two words: admonishment and change.
Regarding admonishment, the Pope said that God is offended when we put our way of seeing things above His and when we are indifferent to Him. Pope Francis also warned against a more serious offense, that of violent sacrilege.
POPE FRANCIS
The Lord is 'angered' by the violence committed toward the temple of God—that is man—while being honored in man-made temples! We can imagine how much He suffers witnessing wars and violent actions undertaken by those who profess to be Christians.
Pope Francis emphasized that violent forms of nationalism, xenophobic attitudes, hatred and mistreatment of those who are different is contrary to God's plan.
The second word the Pope reflected on is change. He said that once the errors have been identified, it is necessary to move away from sin. But he cautioned against trying to change without the help of God and others.
POPE FRANCIS
Without God, without his grace, we do not heal from our sins. His grace is the source of our change.
Conversion—this oft-repeated word is not always easy to understand. Conversion is asked of people. Conversion has a communal, ecclesial dynamic. So, we believe that our ecumenical conversion also progresses to the extent that we recognize ourselves in need of grace, in need of the same mercy: recognizing that we are all dependent on God in everything.
To close Vespers, Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity, greeted the Pope. He stressed the importance of carrying the essence of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity into everyday life.
We Christians will find peace among ourselves if we look not only to our own rights, but also gratefully appreciate the gifts and riches that the Holy Spirit has entrusted to other Churches and Communities, which are gifts and riches for allas many of us.
Before leaving the Basilica, Pope Francis greeted different religious leaders one by one seated in his wheelchair.
KG
