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RELIGIOUS
UNION
Key
toWorld
Peace?
by Gene H. Hogberg
The threat of nuclear annihilation is prompting religious bodies and
their leaders to cooperate as never before in search of an elusive world at peace.
r:
ok back on the impor–
tant events of this year.
What do we see?
Fear of war dominated the
front page of news papers.
Fighting in the Midd le East and
t he Sou t h Atlantic grabbed
headlines for weeks on end.
But another event occurred- not
at all divorced from the crucial
issue of war and peace- which was
of immense importance. That was
the historie visit of Pope John Paul
JI
to Britain in late May and early
June.
Many in Britain are still reflect–
ing upon the events surround ing
that unique occasion. And with
good reason: Its greatest impact is
yet to be felt.
Furthering Ecumenicat Orive
The first day of his precedent-shat–
tering visit to Bri tain, John Paul II
declared in London's Roman Cath–
olic Westminster Cathedral, "To–
day for the first time in history, a
Bishop of Rome sets foot on
English soil."
A moment or two Iater, the Pope
stated a major- if not the princi–
pal- reason for bis journey: "My
deep desire, my ardent hope and my
prayer is that my visit may serve the
cause of Christian unity."
Thus, John Paul's excursion to
Britain closely paralleled his h istor–
ie three-day visit to Turkey i n
November, 1979. At that time the
Pope held a three-day religious
summit with Greek Orthodox
Patriarch Demetrios I. On that
2
trip-"My first ecumenical visit"
he caBed it- the Pope showed he
was determined to put an end to
what he has cal led the " intolerable
scandal" of the divisions within the
Christian-professing world.
Unpreceden ted Servi ce
The highlight of the Pope's six-day
visit to Britain (he visi ted Scotland
and Wales, as well as England)
occurred the second d a y. It
involved the visit of the Pope to
Canterbury Cathedral, the very
headquarters of the Churcb of
England, which broke off from
Rome four and a hal f centuries
ago.
Joining the Pope was his host,
Archbishop of Canterbury Robert
Runcie, and leaders of a dozen
Orthódox and Protestant church–
es.
The Archbishop, in his opening
remarks, emphasized that the ser–
vice was "a celebration of a com–
mon vision." What followed shortly
afterward was another first for an
Anglican church- a sermon by a
Pope.
In his message, the Pope
appealed to those presentas well as
the millions watching on television
to accept the commitment "of
praying and working for reconcilia–
tion and ecclesiastical unity."
The Pontiff told the large con–
gregation in the cathedral that
church unity "transcends al! politi–
cal divisions and frontiers." He said
that his visit to the cathed ral was a
day "that centuries and generations
have awaited."
After the service a Common
Declaration was signed by the Pope
and the Archbishop of Canterbury
which proclaimed: " We commit
ourselves anew to the task of work–
ing for unity with firm faith,
renewed hope and ever deeper
!ove." They announced a new joint
commission to explore ways to fos–
ter further cooperation between the
two churches.
Time Ripe for Papal Visit
It
is unlikely that a visit by a Pope
to predominantly non-Catholic
(and somewhat nonrelig ious,
though Protestant) Britain could
have been arranged even as recent–
Jy as 1
O
years ago.
Down through the centuries of
division, feelings against the papacy
in parts of Bri tain have run very
deep. Observers agreed that it was
not the institution of the papacy,
still held suspect by many non–
Catholics, but the personality of
(Continued on page 39)
HISTORIC VISIT - Pope John Paul 11
emerges from St. George's Cathedral in
Southwark, near central London, on first
day of his precedent-shattering visit to
Britain last spring. In series of smaller
photos, far right, the Pope arrives at Gat–
wick airport aboard chartered ltalian air·
liner, and (second photo) addresses a
welcoming crowd. The elder/y, síck and
disab/ed (middle photo) arrive at St.
George's Cathedral for papal service for
the sick. John Paul arrives for a mass at
Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Scotland,
riding in specially constructed "Popemo–
bile " and is greeted (bottom photo) by a
crowd estímated at 260,000 peop/e.
The PLAIN TRUTH