FOURTH GLOBAL GATHERING OF THE GLOBAL CHRISTIAN FORUM
ACCRA, GHANA, 16-19 APRIL 2024

ADDRESS OF BISHOP FLAVIO PACE
Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity

“That the World May Know” (John 17:23b)

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Christ Is Risen!

On behalf of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and all the Catholics present here, I am delighted to extend warm greetings to the participants of the Fourth Global Gathering of the Global Christian Forum here in Accra, Ghana, under the theme “That the World May Know” (John 17:23b). I express our heartfelt gratitude to the GCF International Secretariat, the local hosting Committee, and all those who have tirelessly prepared this significant ecumenical event. Many thanks and great appreciation to the volunteers: Ghana and its people are wonderful!

Thanks because you welcomed me as a brother and a friend in our common spiritual journey. I feel these days as a part of my spiritual retreat in preparation for my episcopal consecration: please pray for me and invoke the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of communion and reconciliation, the Spirit of Unity, upon my mission. We are pilgrims on the same way to Jesus and Jesus himself, as with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, is walking with us. Only Jesus can open our hearts to understand the Holy Scriptures, speaking about Him and his Passion and Resurrection.

I want to call to mind my dear predecessor, Bishop Brian Farrell, who is dear to many of you here: Rest assured that I will transmit to him all your greetings and appreciation.

This gathering brings together Christian leaders from around the world, representing a rich tapestry of Christianity, including Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Independent churches, and ecumenical organizations. It reflects our global diversity, encompassing various ecclesial experiences and personal charisms. For twenty-five years, the Global Christian Forum has provided an “open space” where representatives from all streams of global Christianity can meet to nurture mutual respect, share personal and ecclesial faith stories, address common challenges and aspirations, and explore fresh ways of promoting Christian unity in a time of significant shifts in global Christianity.

We have returned from a pilgrimage of lamentation but also of hope for the future at Cape Coast Castle, saying “No more slavery! No more oppression!” We know, however, that there are many modern forms of slavery and we must fight against them together. Jesus himself, in the days of his Passion, felt the power of darkness: I was in Jerusalem for Holy Week and I prayed also in depth of a cave, in the lower level of the Church of Saint Peter in gallicantu, in the place which some traditions identify as the Palace of Caiaphas. While Jesus was a prisoner, He was in the darkness. In that place we prayed Psalm 88: Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction ? Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? Jesus was with our brothers and sisters in the Dungeons of the Castle.

Focusing on the sharing of living faith and promoting personal relations among Christian leaders, the GCF has become a valuable ecumenical tool. While seeking solutions to doctrinal divergences is essential for achieving full visible unity, exchanging faith experiences, deepening mutual understanding, and strengthening links of Christian fraternity among believers are equally vital.

This gathering is a compelling witness to our unity in several ways. It manifests a sense of our common belonging to Christ, transcending cultural, racial, or ecclesial differences. It creates an open space where all are valued and respected as members of the same body of Christ across denominational lines. It fosters a profound sense of kinship and brotherhood when we pray together, exchange personal and ecclesial faith experiences, and discuss issues of common interest. It challenges the world’s perceptions of Christianity as merely a source of division and conflict, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel to bring about healing and restoration. It reflects our common longing for unity as prayed for by Jesus himself.

The theme chosen for this gathering, “That the World May Know” (John 17:23b), draws inspiration from Jesus’ prayer just before his passion and death, where he expressed his longing for unity among believers. This unity, rooted in a deep spiritual bond – our common faith in Jesus as the Lord and Saviour – reflects the unity within the Trinity itself. When Christians from diverse backgrounds come together, embracing their shared identity in Christ, they bear witness to the reconciling power of the Gospel. Their unity becomes a testimony to the power of Christian faith that transcends human differences, forming a living community of brothers and sisters rooted in brotherly love, mutual respect, and shared purpose.

“That the World May Know” challenges us to examine the authenticity of our Christian witness. As ambassadors of Christ, our words and actions should bear clear witness to the reality of God’s love and the transformative power of the Gospel. Living lives marked by love, compassion, and grace, we embody the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, drawing others to the knowledge of God’s love and truth.

As some of you may be aware, since 2021, the Catholic Church has been engaged in an unprecedented synodal process entitled “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.” The dialogue among Christians of different communions united by one baptism, holds a significant place in this synodal journey. It is firmly believed that “there can be no synodality without the ecumenical dimension” (A Synodal Church in Mission. The Synthesis Report of the First Session, n. 7.b). Several fraternal delegates representing various Christian traditions participated in the first session held in October last year, and an even larger number will be invited to the concluding session in October of this year. The inaugural session of the Synodal Assembly commenced with an ecumenical prayer vigil named “Together,” attended by numerous leaders from different Christian traditions alongside Pope Francis. We renew our thanks for those who accepted and were present. That gathering sent a clear and credible signal of the desire to journey together in the spirit of unity of faith and exchange of gifts. The Synod acknowledged that “we are in an ecumenical kairos” and affirmed that what unites Christians is greater and deeper than what divides them (Synthesis, n. 7.a).

We can surely affirm that this gathering, where representatives of different churches participate on an equal basis, is also animated by the spirit of synodality. The meeting fosters greater mutual understanding among different traditions and provides a space for common prayer, faith sharing, honest dialogue, and the practice of fraternity. By praying and working together, we can pool our resources, talents, and insights to address common challenges and advance the Gospel collectively.

May this Fourth Global Gathering of the Global Christian Forum strengthen our unity and increase our enthusiasm in testifying to our Christian faith, that the world may know that Jesus is the Lord who makes beautiful and joyful the life of those who follow him.