Pope Francis: Listen to the melody of God in your lives
By Christopher Wells
A group of some five hundred young Lutheran pilgrims from Germany greeted Pope Francis with song as he welcomed them to the Vatican on Monday morning.
鈥楽inging unites鈥�
The Holy Father took up the musical theme in his remarks to the pilgrims, saying, 鈥淪inging unites,鈥� and explaining that 鈥淚n the choir, no one is alone: it is important to listen to others.鈥�
Pope Francis said he desired 鈥渢his willingness to listen for the Church,鈥� which is 鈥渓earning it anew in the synodal process.鈥�
He encouraged the pilgrims to also listen for 鈥渢he melody of God鈥� in their own lives, calling on them to open not only their ears, but also their hearts. 鈥淲hoever sings with an open heart,鈥� he said, 鈥渁lready touches the mystery of God, perhaps without even realizing it.鈥� This mystery, he said, 鈥渋s love, the love that in Jesus Christ finds its splendid, full, and unique sound.鈥�
And this, he said, 鈥渋s also how ecumenism takes place,鈥� not only in Germany, but throughout the world.
鈥榃ith Luther to the Pope鈥�
The 2021 Ecumenical Pilgrimage has as its motto 鈥淲ith Luther to Rome,鈥� and is intended to help pilgrims get to know Rome and their faith from a new perspective. It is focused on the elements that unite Christians, the obstacles that have already been overcome in the journey to unity, and the challenges that must still be faced.
It is the second time the group has come to Rome, with the group meeting previously with Pope Francis in 2016. On that occasion, the Holy Father invited the pilgrims to be 鈥渨itnesses of mercy,鈥� and to continue to get to know one another better, to pray and help one another, and to assist those in need.
In this way, he said, 鈥渇ree from prejudice and trusting only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, proclaiming peace and reconciliation, you will be the true protagonists of a new season of this journey which, with God鈥檚 help, will lead to full communion.鈥�
The 2021 pilgrimage, which is taking place from October 23-30, is supported by major Christian communities in the region of Saxony Anhalt, including the Diocese of Magdeburg, the Evangelical Church of Anhalt, and the Evangelical Church in Central Germany.
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