Most New Zealand Christians know little of the formal ecumenical dialogues that happen regularly between some of the New Zealand churches. One of these is the National Anglican Catholic dialogue which meets twice each year. Our October meeting finishes this morning in Auckland. These have been two days of friendship and robust theological dialogue and it is a privilege to be a part of this group.
Our gathering was reminded of the encouragement of Pope Francis when he visited South Korea in August:
For diplomacy, as the art of the possible, is based on the firm and persevering conviction that peace can be won through quiet listening and dialogue, rather than by mutual recriminations, fruitless criticisms and displays of force. (full text)
This quiet listening and robust honest dialogue is my experience in my years on this Anglican Roman Catholic dialogue. Alongside the growing friendship between our communities at parish and diocesan level we desire that the prayer of Christ become a full reality: “That they may all be one” John 17:21
Caro F. John ! Ammiro la tua pastorale e invidio i tuoi parrocchiani. Sei un esempio.
Grazie Stefano, è bello sentire da voi.
This morning I read a historic comment by award-winning American novelist Marilynne Robinson:
“There’s a lot of writing about religion with a cold eye, but virtually none with a loving heart.”
How this author must be rejoicing in Pope Francis and the way he is steering the Church back to the simple and all-encompassing love of Jesus in the gospels.
I neglected to mention that Marilynne Robinson is Presbyterian, a mystic and naturally ecumenical.
In New Zealand, for some time, the old fences between the houses in the Christian village have been lowered, and it is interesting to see people in the established churches now looking towards Pope Francis. A friend who is Salvation Army said of Pope Francis: “He is full of the Holy Spirit.” It seems that Francis is not just pope of the Catholic Church, but of the world.