To Representatives of the Christian Churches in Wales (2 June 1982)

On Wednesday, 2 June 1982, the Holy Father addressed the Representatives of the Christian Churches in Wales, acknowledging their request for a common prayer for unity.

Dear brethren,

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1, 2).

Since my visit to your city is brief, we are able to meet together for only a few moments, and you have very rightly proposed that these few moments should be devoted to a common prayer for unity. This is as it should be, for unity is God’s gracious gift, and all our other efforts to do his will are vain if they are not rooted in change of heart, in holiness of life and in prayer for unity: these are the very soul of the ecumenical movement (Cfr. Unitatis Redintegratio, 8).

I have been happy to learn of the degree of cooperation that exists between Catholics and members of other Churches and Communities in Wales, and of the part played by Catholic consultors and observers in the work of the Council of Churches in Wales. Last Saturday at Canterbury I was able to have a longer meeting with a group of British Church leaders, among them the representatives of the Churches of this country. Such meetings are important, for they bear witness to our desire to fulfil God’s will for our unity with him and with each other, in his Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This witness is all the more needed in these troubled days in which the peace of the world is so sorely threatened. Let us then pray together, in the words our Saviour gave us.

© Copyright 1982 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

 Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana