The Archbishop of Sweden meets Pope Francis
On Monday, 4 May, Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, met at the Vatican with the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis. Jackelén is Sweden’s first female archbishop, and, as is well known, Jackelén’s election to the office of archbishop initially provoked quite considerable outrage even in progressive Sweden.
Pope Francis thanked the Lutheran Church of Sweden for taking in many South American refugees during the period of dictatorship. The main themes the Pope and the Archbishop of Sweden discussed were the need to promote Christian unity, the approaching anniversary of the Reformation and its significance, as well as the need to work together for the sake of the poor and the marginalized. In the course of the conversation the Pope also referred to the Second Vatican Council document “Unitatis Redintegratio,” adopted half a century ago, which calls on all Catholics to heed the signs of the times and to overcome the things that divide and thereby cause scandal and hinder the proclamation of the Gospel. Francis likewise pointed out that today the questions of the dignity of human life and questions of the family, marriage, and sexuality are essential, and that one cannot remain silent about them or ignore them out of fear of risking the ecumenical consensus already achieved. It would be sad if the confessions were to split over these questions.
Pope Francis acknowledged that much still lies ahead to be done, yet he hopes that the commemoration of the Reformation anniversary in 2017 and the joint document developed by Catholics and Lutherans, “From Conflict to Communion,” will encourage both Catholics and Lutherans to take further steps toward unity in sacramental life and in pastoral ministry.
Translated by: Aļesja Lavrinoviča
Proofreading: Milda Klampe
Sources: Vatican Radio http://en.radiovaticana.va ,
Vatican Radio http://lv.radiovaticana.va