Pope Encourages Unity Among Christians in England

 

The Holy Father seems to be winning over hearts and minds with his clear, gracious and uncompromising message of Christian truth.  Today he met with the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace.  Watching the pope visit these sites that at one time were Catholic, brings history to life.  Lambeth Palace used to be the residence of the pope's own archbishop of Canterbury.  Today, sadly, it is a sign of Christian disunity.

The Holy Father ended the day at Westminster Abbey which had been a Catholic cathedral prior to the Reformation.  In his remarks, he spoke of the desire for Christian unity.  According to Catholic New Service,

The Holy Father told those present that there were two reasons for his pilgrimage to the abbey: "to pray before the tomb of Saint Edward the Confessor and to join you in imploring the gift of Christian unity."
Calling the impressive effect of the abbey a powerful reminder of the Christian faith that "shaped the unity and culture of Europe and the heart and spirit of the English people, he said: "Here too, we are forcibly reminded that what we share, in Christ, is greater than what continues to divide us."

 The pope spent some time in prayer before the tomb of the great saint and martyr, Saint Edward the Confessor and before leaving the abbey he stood on the same spot where St. Thomas More stood when he was condemned to death.

Full coverage of the pope's visit, as well as the texts of his talks and homilies, can be found at the EWTN website.