Catholic News 2

 (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday met with Gottfried Locher, the President of the Swiss Federation of Protestant Churches.In an interview with Vatican Radio’s German section, Locher said they spoke about “ecumenism and Protestantism in Europe.”Locher also said the meeting was “very warm,” and the Pope “laughed a lot.”Locher, who also serves on the three-member Presidium of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE), said Pope Francis is “very interested in ecumenism.”“I have the impression he is serious in his work for Christian unity, and sees it as a pastoral concern, and not just as a part of church diplomacy,” he said.  “On the part of doctrine, I think for Protestants, and also for Catholics, it is not entirely clear in which direction Pope Francis want to move the Catholic Church,” Locher continued. “We have much respect for the way he deals with people, as well as ...

 (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday met with Gottfried Locher, the President of the Swiss Federation of Protestant Churches.

In an interview with Vatican Radio’s German section, Locher said they spoke about “ecumenism and Protestantism in Europe.”

Locher also said the meeting was “very warm,” and the Pope “laughed a lot.”

Locher, who also serves on the three-member Presidium of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE), said Pope Francis is “very interested in ecumenism.”

“I have the impression he is serious in his work for Christian unity, and sees it as a pastoral concern, and not just as a part of church diplomacy,” he said.  

“On the part of doctrine, I think for Protestants, and also for Catholics, it is not entirely clear in which direction Pope Francis want to move the Catholic Church,” Locher continued. “We have much respect for the way he deals with people, as well as his commitment to the poor and the disadvantaged.”

Locher added “it was very nice at the end of the meeting, when he said we were brothers in Christ, and asked that I pray for him.”

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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday met with the the prior of the Taizé Community, Brother Alois.The Taizé Community is an ecumenical monastic order located in France. Founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schütz, it currently has over 100 brothers who come from Catholic and Protestant communions.Among the topics Pope Francis and Brother Alois discussed were the welcome of young people in Taizé, the international meetings organized by the community, and the search for Christian unity.The also spoke about the current refugee crisis."The pope is very concerned about how Europe is drifting apart,” Brother Alois told Vatican Radio’s German Section.“He said in early periods of its history, Europe has been able to integrate migrants, and a strong foundation is there, and it is important for Europe to rediscover these roots,” Brother Alois continued.He said the Taizé Community has itself taken in refugees, including most recen...

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday met with the the prior of the Taizé Community, Brother Alois.

The Taizé Community is an ecumenical monastic order located in France. Founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schütz, it currently has over 100 brothers who come from Catholic and Protestant communions.

Among the topics Pope Francis and Brother Alois discussed were the welcome of young people in Taizé, the international meetings organized by the community, and the search for Christian unity.

The also spoke about the current refugee crisis.

"The pope is very concerned about how Europe is drifting apart,” Brother Alois told Vatican Radio’s German Section.

“He said in early periods of its history, Europe has been able to integrate migrants, and a strong foundation is there, and it is important for Europe to rediscover these roots,” Brother Alois continued.

He said the Taizé Community has itself taken in refugees, including most recently two groups from Sudan and Afghanistan who arrived from the refugee camp in Calais, in northern France.

Brother Alois said he also spoke about ecumenism with the Pope.

"I told the Pope that I often quote his words on the exchange of gifts between the different churches,” he said.

However, Brother Alois said in Taizé, ecumenism does not mean “leveling the faith, nor seeking the lowest common denominator, but is rather a mutual enrichment.”

As part of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Taizé brothers are leading throughout the Lenten season two daily prayers in the church of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini, located near St. Peter’s Basilica.

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