POPE AND WORLD COUNCIL MEET TO PROMOTE UNITY AND TO SAVE THE WORLD
BY DAVID CLOUD
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
(Friday Church News Notes, September 1, 2017, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - On August 23-24, leaders of the World Council of Churches had a private audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican Palace to discuss ecumenical unity and the salvation of the world. WCC general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit called the meeting fruitful and said that the “the unity of the church and the unity of humankind are interconnected” (“Pope Francis, WCC leadership meet in Rome, WCC News, Aug. 24, 2017). Tveit said that ecumenical unity is necessary to save the world, and he doesn’t mean the salvation of souls. Addressing the pope, the WCC leader said, “The future of humanity is threatened; the poorest among us are already feeling the worst consequences of them. We encourage you and the Roman Catholic Church to be with us in mobilizing a real change of mind, heart and priorities.” They want to save the world from such things as poverty, racial and religious division, nuclear armament, and climate change. “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk
so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you
often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross
of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is
in their shame, WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS.) For our conversation is in
heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ”
(Philippians 3:17-20).
