Automatic translation from Italian, under review.
I welcomed the new pope as the sweet Christ on earth, and I was moved to the depths of my heart when I heard him speak of ecumenism in his first address in Latin.
I feel deeply challenged by the firm and resolute tone of his statements.
“Nourished and sustained by the Eucharist, Catholics cannot but feel stirred to strive for that full unity which Christ ardently hoped for in the Upper Room. The Successor of Peter knows that he must take on this supreme yearning of the divine Master in a quite particular way. To him, in fact, has been entrusted the task of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32).
With full awareness, therefore, at the beginning of his ministry in the Church of Rome, which Peter bathed with his blood, his present Successor takes on as his primary commitment that of working tirelessly for the reconstitution of the full and visible unity of all Christ’s followers. This is his ambition, this his pressing duty. He is aware that expressions of good feelings are not enough for this. Concrete gestures are needed that enter into hearts and stir consciences, urging each person to that interior conversion which is the prerequisite for all progress on the path of ecumenism.
Theological dialogue is necessary, and a deeper study of the historical reasons for choices made in the past is also indispensable. But what is most urgent is that “purification of memory”, so often evoked by John Paul II, which alone can dispose hearts to accept the full truth of Christ. It is before Him, supreme Judge of every living being, that each of us must place himself, in the awareness that one day we shall have to give Him an account of what we have done or not done for the great good of the full and visible unity of all His disciples.
The present Successor of Peter allows himself to be challenged personally by this question and is ready to do all that is in his power to promote the fundamental cause of ecumenism. Following the example of his Predecessors, he is fully determined to foster every initiative that may seem appropriate to promote contacts and understanding with the representatives of the various Churches and Ecclesial Communities. To them, too, on this occasion, he sends his most cordial greeting in Christ, the one Lord of all.”
(Benedict XVI, address of 20/04/2005)