Video: Pope Francis Says We Are Living An Ecumenism of Blood

The blood of Christ unites Christians, Pope Francis said in a video-message addressed to the “John 17 Movement,” a group dedicated to promoting ecumenical initiatives among Christians of all denominations. The video was shown at the organization's meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

On the Day for Christian Unity, with the theme “Father, may they be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me,” Pope Francis, speaking in Spanish, recalled that unity is sealed in baptism, and that division is the work of the father of lies. “It is he who is persecuting Christians today, he who is anointing us with (the blood of) martyrdom. He knows that Christians are disciples of Christ and doesn’t care about the differences.”