Message of Pope Leo XIV for the 500th Anniversary of the Anabaptist Movement

On Thursday 29 May, Pope Leo XIV sent a message on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist Movement. The message was read by Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the DPCU, during a worship service at the Grossmünster Kirche, of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Zürich, Switzerland.

In his message, Pope Leo reflected on the radical newness of Christian faith and life, “a desire for renewal that characterises the Anabaptist movement itself.” He also candidly acknowledged that the history shared by Catholics and Mennonites “includes painful wounds and narratives that continue to affect our relationships and perceptions to this day.” He therefore stressed the importance of a “purification of memories and a common re-reading of history, enabling us to heal past wounds and build a new future through the ‘courage to love.’”

The Bishop of Rome expressed his conviction that “the more united Christians are, the more effective our witness to Christ, the Prince of Peace, will be in building a civilisation of loving encounter.” He concluded his message by assuring his prayers “that our fraternal relations may deepen and grow.”

During the worship service, special mention was made of the journey towards reconciliation with the Catholic Church, the Lutheran World Federation, and the World Communion of Reformed Churches. A large group of ecumenical guests attended the commemorations in Zürich.

It is also worth noting that an official representative of the Mennonite World Conference was present at the inauguration of the ministry of Pope Leo XIV.