LETTER OF CARDINAL KASPER AND DR NOKO

Geneva and Rome, February 6, 2004

Dear Friends,

At the beginning of the new year, we like to send to you from Geneva and Rome our warm greetings and best wishes in our Lord Jesus Christ. This year we celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ), signed and celebrated on 31 October 1999 in Augsburg, Germany, by the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church.

The signing of the JDDJ will rightly be remembered as the day when we as Lutherans and Catholics were able to state officially that there is a consensus between us on basic truths related to the doctrine of justification. And we not only stated it, we rejoiced and celebrated, because, with God's help, we could reach - not yet the final goal - but an important milestone on our common pilgrimage to full, visible unity. We extended our hands to each other and we are not willing to let them go again.

As a result, we can give common witness to the essence of the Gospel This is highly important in our present day world of growing secularization and loss of the meaning of life, In a world troubled by so many conflicts, Christians must be able to testify together to peace and reconciliation, which belong at the heart of the Christian message.

Theologians on both sides had long been aware that there is a basic consensus between Lutherans and Catholics regarding the biblical teaching of justification and grace. The Joint Declaration states in paragraph 15: "Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christs saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us far and calling us to good works». This consensus enabled us at the same time to declare that the mutual condemnations of the 16^th century in relation to justification do not apply to the Lutheran and Catholic understandings presented in the Joint Declaration. Thus our communion has become more deep and real, although it is still incomplete. Herein lies the historic ecclesiological consequence of the Joint Declaration.

It is our heartfelt view that the Fifth Anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification calls for celebrations and [or renewed study around the world. The anniversary day itself - October 31, 2004 - is particularly appropriate for such ecumenical celebrations, locally as well as at the diocesan and/or national levels. We encourage you to mark this event in ways appropriate for and relevant to your particular regions.

In addition to celebrations in worship, a day of study around the time of the celebration, arranged in cooperation with seminaries or theological faculties, may be a good way for pastors and theologians to deepen their understanding of what has been achieved, as well as of the tasks that still remain.

Regarding available resources, the full text of the Joint Declaration, with the Official Common Statement and its Annex, are available from the offices of the LWF and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. They are also available in PDF format on the LWF and on the Vatican web sites.[1] Please contact us if there are other ways in which we might assist you as you consider plans for events of the kind mentioned here.

Substantial further work still remains to be done before an agreement in all its fullness and extension is

reached between Lutherans and Roman Catholics regarding the significance of the gospel of justification in the life of the church. Therefore, the Joint Declaration itself (cf. paragraph 43), and the Official Common Statement by which the Joint Declaration was confirmed, both call for continued ecumenical efforts by the two sides.

Following upon the Joint Declaration, many initiatives have been undertaken to deepen the consensus reached so far. The fourth phase of the International Lutheran-Catholic Commission on Unity is working on the theme of "Apostolicity of the Church", which includes the question of ministry (cf. JDDJ, 43). The Commission takes seriously the fact that there is a variety of elements which constitute the apostolicity of the Church,

In 2001, for the first time, Lutherans and Catholics together invited others, Methodists and Reformed, to a consultation on "Unity in Faith - The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification in a Wider Ecumenical Context", This consultation considered how other Communions could relate to the agreements reached in the Joint Declaration. As a result, a theologically substantiated affirmation of the Joint Declaration is being prepared by the World Methodist Council.

Another significant outcome of the Joint Declaration within the Lutheran World Federation has been the study program on the contemporary meaning of justification: "Justification in the World's Context" (LWF Documentation 45/2000), as well as the 2002 international symposium, resulting in the publication, "The Doctrine of Justification: Its Reception and Meaning Today," 2/2003). These events brought together those involved in official dialogues with those who are examining questions • about the current relevance of justification in different situations.

In order to broaden the biblical section of the Joint Declaration, a symposium of biblical scholars will be organized by the Lutheran World Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Likewise, in the light of concerns expressed by Lutheran and Reformed Christians regarding aspects of ecumenical celebrations and concerning the matter of indulgences in the Jubilee Year 2000, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, together with the Lutheran World Federation and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, organized a symposium in 2001 on the meaning of indulgences today. In addition, various projects referring to the doctrine of justification and to the JDDJ have been carried out, and others are under way. We see the occasion of the Fifth Anniversary as an opportunity to draw on the ecumenical resource that the agreement represents. It is also an opportunity for churches and dioceses around the world to contribute to the ongoing discussion of the issues and challenges still remaining.

We thank you in advance for dedicating attention to this upcoming event, which we hope, by the guidance of Gods Spirit, will contribute to the continued positive development of our ecumenical relations both locally and globally.

Sincerely yours,

[1] www. Lutheranworld.org/Special_Events-Justification.html or: www.vatican.va (go to Roman Curia – Pontifical Councils – Promoting Christian Unity).