Pope Francis says "...bearing witness to the Lord’s prayer that all may be one, you will be able to help our brothers and sisters experience in their hearts and lives the transforming power of God’s love..." to Pentecostals FULL TEXT

Pope Francis' July 8th message addressed to members of the Commission for Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue, which was published on the website of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. The goal of this Dialogue, which began in 1972, as the Dicastery's website explains, is to promote mutual respect and understanding in matters of faith and practice. Genuine exchange and frank discussion concerning the positions and practices of the two traditions have been guiding principles of these conversations, which include daily prayer services led alternately by Catholics and Pentecostals. (Edited from Vatican News excerpt)

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS 

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION FOR CATHOLIC-PENTECOSTAL DIALOGUE

I offer cordial greetings to all taking part in the meeting marking the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Commission for Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue. I am grateful to the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, to the co-moderators of the Commission and to all who have worked to make this event possible.

Over the past fifty years, the Commission, through dialogue and reflection, has journeyed together in order to build bonds of friendship, solidarity and mutual understanding between Catholics and Pentecostals. It is my hope that this important anniversary will strengthen these bonds and renew your zeal to proclaim, as missionary disciples, the joy of the Gospel in the ecclesial community and in society as a whole. In this way, bearing witness to the Lord’s prayer that all may be one (cf. Jn 17:21), you will be able to help our brothers and sisters experience in their hearts and lives the transforming power of God’s love, mercy and grace.

With my prayerful best wishes for your deliberations during this meeting, I invoke upon all of you, your families and your associates Almighty God’s blessings of wisdom, joy and peace. And I ask you, please, to remember me in your prayers.

Rome, from Saint John Lateran, 8 July 2022

FRANCIS

Source: Vatican.va