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CHRISTIAN UNITY IS WAY TO HONOR COMMON WITNESS OF MARTYRDOM, POPE SAYS
The Catholic Sun
May 8 2014
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To honor the sacrifice of those killed for their
faith in the 20th century, Christians today must renew their commitment
to reconciliation and full Christian unity, Pope Francis said.
"Just as in the ancient Church the blood of the martyrs became the
seed of new Christians, so in our day the blood of many Christians
has become the seed of unity," the pope told Catholicos Karekin II
of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Pope Francis welcomed the catholicos to the Vatican May 8, paying
homage to the fidelity and sacrifice of Armenian Christians during
decades of persecution and oppression. He also praised the Armenian
Apostolic Church's commitment to ecumenical dialogue.
"The number of disciples who have shed their blood for Christ in
the tragic events of the last century is certainly greater than the
number of martyrs in the first centuries" of Christianity, the pope
said. "In this martyrology, sons and daughters of the Armenian nation
have a place of honor."
Pope Francis did not use the term "genocide," although his remarks
were an obvious reference to the estimated 1.5 million Armenians --
more than half the Armenian population at the time -- who died in a
forced evacuation by Ottoman Turks in 1915-18.
The suffering of Christians from every church and denomination under
the Nazis, the communists and various dictatorships in the 1900s has
made "an invaluable contribution to the cause of unity among Christ's
disciples," the pope said.
The unity of Christians in "suffering and martyrdom and blood,"
he said, "is a powerful call to continue walking the path of
reconciliation among churches with decisiveness and trusting
abandonment to the work of the Spirit."
"We have an obligation to travel this road of brotherhood, including
out of a debt of gratitude toward the suffering of so many of our
brothers and sisters, a suffering that is salvific because it is
united to the passion of Christ," Pope Francis said.
The pope prayed that the Holy Spirit would "enlighten us and guide us
to that deeply desired day when we can share at the eucharistic table."
After their formal meeting and remarks in the papal library, Pope
Francis and Catholicos Karekin, along with members of his entourage,
went to the Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Apostolic Palace for a
brief prayer service.
During the service, a prayer was offered "for our pontiffs -- His
Holiness Francis and His Holiness Karekin" and for their ministry. At
the end of the service, both leaders offered their solemn blessings
to the small congregation.
http://www.catholicsun.org/2014/05/08/christian-unity-is-way-to-honor-common-witness-of-martyrdom-pope-says/
The Catholic Sun
May 8 2014
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To honor the sacrifice of those killed for their
faith in the 20th century, Christians today must renew their commitment
to reconciliation and full Christian unity, Pope Francis said.
"Just as in the ancient Church the blood of the martyrs became the
seed of new Christians, so in our day the blood of many Christians
has become the seed of unity," the pope told Catholicos Karekin II
of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Pope Francis welcomed the catholicos to the Vatican May 8, paying
homage to the fidelity and sacrifice of Armenian Christians during
decades of persecution and oppression. He also praised the Armenian
Apostolic Church's commitment to ecumenical dialogue.
"The number of disciples who have shed their blood for Christ in
the tragic events of the last century is certainly greater than the
number of martyrs in the first centuries" of Christianity, the pope
said. "In this martyrology, sons and daughters of the Armenian nation
have a place of honor."
Pope Francis did not use the term "genocide," although his remarks
were an obvious reference to the estimated 1.5 million Armenians --
more than half the Armenian population at the time -- who died in a
forced evacuation by Ottoman Turks in 1915-18.
The suffering of Christians from every church and denomination under
the Nazis, the communists and various dictatorships in the 1900s has
made "an invaluable contribution to the cause of unity among Christ's
disciples," the pope said.
The unity of Christians in "suffering and martyrdom and blood,"
he said, "is a powerful call to continue walking the path of
reconciliation among churches with decisiveness and trusting
abandonment to the work of the Spirit."
"We have an obligation to travel this road of brotherhood, including
out of a debt of gratitude toward the suffering of so many of our
brothers and sisters, a suffering that is salvific because it is
united to the passion of Christ," Pope Francis said.
The pope prayed that the Holy Spirit would "enlighten us and guide us
to that deeply desired day when we can share at the eucharistic table."
After their formal meeting and remarks in the papal library, Pope
Francis and Catholicos Karekin, along with members of his entourage,
went to the Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Apostolic Palace for a
brief prayer service.
During the service, a prayer was offered "for our pontiffs -- His
Holiness Francis and His Holiness Karekin" and for their ministry. At
the end of the service, both leaders offered their solemn blessings
to the small congregation.
http://www.catholicsun.org/2014/05/08/christian-unity-is-way-to-honor-common-witness-of-martyrdom-pope-says/