Pope says despite progress Christian unity faces new challenges

Published: 2006-11-17

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Despite 40 years of real progress toward Christian unity, growing differences among Christians over ethical questions and disciplinary matters have created new challenges in ecumenism, Pope Benedict XVI said. While the Roman Catholic-Orthodox dialogue has found new energy and new hope, the church's dialogue with the Protestant and Anglican communities has led to a discovery of shared faith and "the more precise identification of real differences," the pope said. Pope Benedict met Nov. 17 with members of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, which was holding its plenary meeting at the Vatican. The pope, who served as an expert at the Second Vatican Council, marveled at how much had had been accomplished in just over 40 years. Observers from other churches and Christian communities were present at the council, "attentive, but silent," he said. "The silence has been transformed into a word of communion."

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