POPE URGES LUTHERANS TO SET ASIDE DOCTRINE TO WORK TOGETHER
BY NICOLE WINFIELD
SEE: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletters/2016/newsletter20161024.htm; republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Pope Francis delivers his message during an audience with Lutheran pilgrims in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. (L’Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) (Associated Press) Used in accordance with the US Fair Use Act.
LTRP Note: Posted for informational and research purposes. One person who agrees with the Pope and has had a major impact on the evangelical/Protestant’s church’s move toward unity with Rome is Rick Warren through his long-standing Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan and Purpose Driven movement (accepted by tens of thousands of churches and dramatically changing the landscape of today’s Christianity).By Nicole Winfield
Associated Press
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis urged Lutherans to set aside doctrinal differences Thursday and work with Catholics to care for the poor, the sick and refugees as he laid out his vision for greater communion before his visit to Sweden later this month.
Francis greeted about 1,000 Lutherans who were visiting the Vatican on an ecumenical pilgrimage. They had arrived in Rome from Germany, where Martin Luther famously sparked the Protestant Reformation by nailing his 95 theses to a church door to challenge the abuses of the Catholic Church.
Francis will mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation with his Oct. 31-Nov. 1 visit to Sweden, where he will participate in an ecumenical service with the Lutheran World Federation.
Like his predecessors, Francis has reached out to Protestants, Orthodox and other Christians to heal Christianity’s divisions. But unlike his predecessors, Francis has said theological differences should be put aside so Christians can work together on issues of pressing social concern, including caring for the poor, the environment and helping Christians under assault in Iraq and Syria. Click here to continue.
