Adds That Path to Unity Is Found Listening to the Lord...

Is very necessary to build Ecumenism and to fulfill our commitment for the re-establishment of Christian unity. I want to offer you here, some important thoughts from pope Benedict XVI address on ecumenism.

- "Ecumenism is a slow process, it is a gradual journey of ascent, as are all journeys of repentance," the Pope said. "However, it is a journey that, after the initial difficulties and in fact in them, presents also great moments of joy, refreshing pauses, and allows one to breathe fully the very pure air of full communion."
- "On reviewing the journey of the last 40 years, we marvel at how the Lord has awakened us from the lethargy of self-sufficiency and indifference; how he makes us ever more able to 'listen to one another' and not just 'hear ourselves'; how he has loosened our tongue so that the prayer we raise to him has greater force of conviction for the world."
- "By praying and praying together, Christians acquire a greater awareness of their condition of brothers, even if they are still divided; and by praying, we learn better to listen to the Lord, as we can only find the path to unity by listening to the Lord and following his voice."
- "Ecumenism is certainly a slow process, at times perhaps even discouraging when one gives in to the temptation to 'hear' and not to 'listen,' to say half-truths, instead of having the courage to proclaim them."