Pope joins Lutherans in unity prayer

From Desmond O'Grady in Rome "I'VE COME here," said Pope John Paul in Rome's Lutheran Church on Sunday evening "because the Holy Spirit wants us to seek full unity".
Pope John Paul said that, in a certain sense, the world was awaiting a new advent in the year 2000. He added that, despite the evident differences from Lutherans, "We feel profoundly united with them, we desire unity and work for it without letting ourselves be discouraged by the difficulties we meet on our path".
The first-ever visit of a Pope to a Lutheran church made a big impact, mostly positive, although there were criticisms from some Protestants and from the arch-reactionary Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre who, last Friday, published a letter to the Pope saying that the speeches and ceremonies to celebrate Luther were "really too much".
There were 400 people in the Christuskirche and several hundred more outside when the pastor, Christopher Meyer, dressed in a black habit with white ruff, and white-robed Pope John Paul began the evening service. Pastor Meyer gave the first sermon, the Pope spoke after him, saying that, on the Five hundredth anniversary of Luther's birth, "we seem to see from afar the dawn of recomposition of unity and community."
Both the pastor and the Pope pointed out that the meeting occurred during Advent, a time of penance for the rupture of unity and expectation for its reestablishment.
When Pope John Paul arrived at the Lutheran church after visiting a nearby Catholic parish, he was greeted by Horst Schlitter, a journalist who is president of the Council of the Lutheran Community. Schlitter greeted the Pope warmly as "Holy Father and Bishop of Rome".
He spoke in German, as did Pope John Paul, and German was used throughout the evening service. Almost all members of the Lutheran community in Rome are German. Pastor Meyer referred to Pope John Paul as "Holiness".
A Polish Christmas hymn was played on the organ at the beginning of the ceremony. Pastor Meyer read Luther's prayer for Christian unity. It is said that Pope John Paul suggested use of this prayer.
"We pray, 0 Lord, and we poor sinners beg that through the Holy Spirit you recompose the unity of what has been shattered, reunite what has been separated and make it whole. Ensure that we turn to your single, eternal truth leaving behind all divisions so that by a single thought and feeling you guide us towards you, Lord Jesus Christ".
Pastor Meyer preached on a text of Isaiah and admitted that, despite the progress made, the two churches were still divided but added "the fact that you, Holiness, are here today is another and new sign of hope".
Pope John Paul took Pastor Meyer's place in the pulpit and spoke with great warmth, saying that he "wanted to witness to our one Lord, recalling with gratitude our common origin, the gift of our redemption and the shared goal of our earthly pilgrimage".
He spoke of the history of the I.utheran community in Rome which in the last century had to meet in the Prussian embassy. He made it sound as if the progress made in ecumenical relations from that time was a sure sign there would be eventual unity.
Fr Flavio Carraro, the Superior General of the Capuchins, attended the evening service with many of his friars for the Capuchin headquarters is close to the Lutheran church.
"This was a historic occasion" said Fr Carraro. "The Pope made his intentions perfectly clear. Some will try to minimise the insignificance but this is because of political motives. The importance or the event cannot be gainsaid."
Many members of the Lutheran community concurred. Professor Christopher Rommel, Director of the Hertziana art library in Rome, a Lutheran with two Catholic brothers, hailed it as a great day, while a Lutheran lady pointed out that even more important than the Pope's words was his humility in coming to the Lutheran church.