Pope: Finland offers example of ecumenical cooperation grounded in hope

Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV met on Monday with a Finnish ecumenical delegation in the Vatican, marking the Feast of Saint Henrik.

Addressing the delegation at the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Pope welcomed Lutheran, Orthodox, and Catholic representatives and thanked Archbishop Luoma for recalling the 750th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Turku.

The Pope then reflected on the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling."

He explained that our hope is grounded in our shared Christian faith, rooted in "the one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins," which he described as "the very root of all Christian fraternity."

Pope Leo went on to observe that many people today are "tempted by a sense of hopelessness." As Christians, he said, "we have the essential mission, as Christian messengers of hope, to bring the Lord’s light into the darkest corners of our world."

Although the Jubilee of Hope has concluded, the Pope stressed that "our Christian hope knows no end and no limit."

He encouraged all Christians to bear witness to this hope not only through words, but also through "charitable deeds," strengthened by Christ, whom he called "the very incarnation of hope for all."

Turning specifically to Finland, Pope Leo expressed appreciation for what he described as concrete signs of ecumenical cooperation.

He welcomed the country’s reputation as "a model country for ecumenism," highlighting the joint Orthodox-Lutheran-Catholic efforts to promote a "culture of hope, dignity, and compassion."

The Pope also thanked them for their shared affirmation that "the development of palliative and end-of-life care must continue."

Pope Leo then referred to the Nordic Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s reception of the document Communion in Growth, calling it "a valuable milestone on the ecumenical journey."

Such initiatives, together with the long-standing tradition of jointly celebrating Saint Henrik’s Day, he said, are "eloquent signs of a practical and fruitful ecumenism."

Bringing his address to a close, the Pope encouraged the delegation as the International Catholic–Lutheran Dialogue prepares to enter its next phase.

Entrusting them to the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul and Saint Henrik, he invited those present to pray the Our Father together, describing it as a sign of their shared faith and communion.