Christians encouraged to aid in the world's pursuit of peace and reconciliation, asserts Pope.
The Catholic Church has marked a significant milestone, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Universal Christian Conference on Life and Work with a weeklong celebration. Archbishop Flavio Pace read Pope Leo XIV's message during the event, emphasising the timeliness of the theme: "Time for God's peace."
Pope Leo XIV drew a parallel between this anniversary and the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a pivotal moment in Christian history. The Council, which took place in 325 in what is now Turkey, gave global Christianity its first common Creed, affirming the divinity of Jesus Christ and His consubstantial nature with the Father.
The theme of the celebration could not be more timely, according to Pope Leo XIV, due to the deep scars of conflict, inequality, environmental degradation, and a growing sense of spiritual disconnection in the world. He called for Christians to work together to bring peace and reconciliation, emphasising that followers of Christ are summoned to become artisans of reconciliation.
Since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the Catholic Church has wholeheartedly embraced the ecumenical path. The Church fully committed to the ecumenical movement during this period, recognising that what unites them is far greater than what divides them.
Pope Leo XIV believes that the unity Christ wills for His Church must be visible, and that such unity grows through theological dialogue, common worship where possible, and shared witness in the face of humanity's suffering. He referenced the Council's decree on ecumenism, 'Unitatis Redintegratio', which calls for dialogue in humble and loving fraternity, grounded in common baptism and shared mission in the world.
The idea to organise a large Christian conference for the promotion of peace and reconciliation in the world, involving Protestant and Orthodox churches, was pursued by Pope Leo XIII around the late 19th century. He aimed to bring the Church out of isolation and foster broader ecclesiastical cooperation and peacemaking.
Pope Leo XIV affirmed that the Catholic Church stands with church leaders as fellow disciples of Christ. He stated that peace is not merely a human achievement, but a sign of the Lord's presence with us. The theme chosen for the anniversary celebration, "Time for God's peace," reflects this belief, urging Christians to confront division with courage, indifference with compassion, and to bring healing where there has been hurt.
The Council of Nicaea stood as a courageous sign of unity amidst difference, an early witness to the conviction that shared confession can overcome division and foster communion. As we celebrate this anniversary, Pope Leo XIV's message serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and reconciliation in a divided world.
