“We are sinning against Christ’s will because we continue to focus on our differences”
In a private meeting with leaders of the inter-denominational Ark Community, Pope Francis said Christians should not wait for theologians to reach agreement, but should walk, pray and work together now. His words came during an October 10 meeting at the Casa Santa Marta with members of the community founded by Evangelical leader Tony Palmer who was killed in a road accident last July.
Palmer became friends with Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio when he worked in Buenos Aires as international ecumenical officer of the Communion of Episcopal Evangelical Churches, a growing movement of charismatic and evangelical Christians seeking reconciliation between their divided communities.
The Holy Father began the meeting on a light note, thanking the Protestant leaders for their courage in coming to meet him.
Pope Francis continued, "Yesterday I was at the door of the synod hall with a Lutheran bishop. I said, “You’re a brave man! In a previous age they burned Lutherans here !”
The complete transcript of the meeting can be found on the Ark Community’s website.
