In the last service of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Pope turned his thoughts to the “brothers of Korea” who suffer from political division, a situation that can help understand the divisions affecting Christians and the Holy Land, where differences in rites and traditions “should not constitute an obstacle to mutual respect and brotherly charity.”

Wherever human words become impotent because the tragic sound of violence and weapons prevail, the prophetic force of the Word of God does not falter and repeatedly says that peace is possible, and that we must be the tools of reconciliation and peace. Therefore our prayer for unity and peace must always be backed up by courageous acts of reconciliation among us Christians. My thoughts still go to the Holy Land for it is very important that the faithful who live there and the pilgrims who visit it bear witness to everyone that the diversity in rites and traditions does not constitute an obstacle to mutual respect and brotherly charity. As much as differences are legitimate, we must seek unity in faith in our fundamental ‘yes’ to Christ and his one Church. Thus diversity will not be an obstacle that separates, but rather the kind of richness found in the many expressions of a shared faith.”

“The possibility of full unity is still open to us. It is a hard but exciting job for Christians who want to adhere to the Lord’s prayer ‘so that they may all be one [. . .], that the world may believe that you sent me’ (Jn, 17:21). The Second Vatican Council said ‘that human powers and capacities cannot achieve this holy objective—the reconciling of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ’ (UR 24). With our trust in the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ, and encouraged by the important steps taken in the ecumenical movement, we faithfully  call upon the Holy Spirit to continue to enlighten and guide our journey.”