Pope says Christian unity has been priority of his pontificate

Published: 2004-01-26

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II said Christian unity has been a constant concern of his pontificate and "continues to be an exacting priority of my ministry." Marking the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 25, the pope said Christian unity "is a gift to welcome and develop in an increasingly profound way." Because Christ prayed that his followers would be one, efforts to promote unity are an obligation, he said during his Sunday Angelus address. But Christ's prayer also is a promise that should sustain Christians as they work for unity and a "healthy reproach" when they are tempted to give up in the face of new challenges and obstacles, the pope said. Representatives of Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant communities in Rome joined Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, for an evening prayer service Jan. 25 that also marked the end of the week.

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