Pope John Paul II - 1996

Christian unity transcends human powers and gifts

It sometimes happens that ancient difficulties return again or that new problems emerge, thereby slowing the ecumenical journey. But the Lord invites us to persevere in our search, in obedience to his will. The Second Vatican Council spoke of its awareness that the holy objective of reconciling all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ "transcends human powers and gifts". It therefore "places its hope entirely in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us and in the power of the Holy Spirit" (Unitatis redintegratio, n. 24). This is exactly why we can be sure that our faith and hope will not be disappointed.