ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 7, 2005

Hanson, Noko Represent Lutheran World Federation In Audience With Pope
05-214-FI

     VATICAN CITY (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president, Lutheran
World Federation (LWF), and the Rev. Ishmael Noko, LWF general secretary,
Geneva, met here Nov. 7 with Pope Benedict XVI as a prelude to regular
meetings between staff of the LWF and the Vatican's Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity.  Hanson is also presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Chicago.
     In a prepared statement, Hanson greeted Pope Benedict XVI on behalf
of the 140 member churches of the LWF, representing Christians in 78
countries.  He expressed gratitude for an audience in the first year of
pope's pontificate.
     "Although Lutheran and Roman Catholic ecclesiologies (church
structures) contain differences, our roots in the tradition of the
apostles remain foundational for our church and must also be foundational
for our ecclesial relations," Hanson said.
     "Since your election you have emphasized that service to the unity of
the whole Christian church will be a high priority for you.  We wish to
express our sincere appreciation for your strongly expressed commitment in
this area," he said.
     "As Martin Luther stated in his 62nd thesis in 1517: 'The true
treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of
God.'  As Lutherans we see it as our shared responsibility as churches to
do all that is possible so that the historically given and living gospel
may truly fill the life and mission of our churches," Hanson said.
     Hanson noted that advances the Second Vatican Council made 40 years
ago paved the way for the Joint Lutheran-Roman Catholic Study Commission
in 1967, and that the fourth phase of the international Lutheran-Roman
Catholic Commission on Unity "completed 10 years of work and is preparing
a report on the topic of 'The Apostolicity of the Church.'"
     "It is also my pleasure to recognize on this occasion the achievement
of the (Roman) Catholic-Lutheran dialogue in the United States, which last
year completed its tenth round with a report on 'The Church as Koinonia of
Salvation: Its Structures and Ministries,'" Hanson said.  "This report
seeks a new approach to the relations between priest and bishop through
reflection on the relationships between the communities they serve: (the)
parish and the diocese or regional church body," he said.
     "A significant milestone of our bilateral relations was the signing
by the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation of the Joint
Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification six years ago in Augsburg,
Germany.  We are aware of how you yourself, with the support of Pope John
Paul II, actively contributed to the fulfillment of this ecumenical
landmark," Hanson said.
     "There should be no doubt that Lutherans and Roman Catholics,
together with others, also see issues of ethics and social justice in the
light of the doctrine of justification.  As an expression of the gospel
itself, the message of justification provides important perspectives for
the church's involvement with the poor and those suffering from political
oppression and abuse," Hanson said.
     "At this time of history, where the human family suffers so greatly
from wars of different origins, from natural catastrophes, from diseases
and poverty, may we as churches be bridges of community and service, which
was and remains Christ's design for his Church," Hanson said.  "As
Christian churches we are committed to ecumenical cooperation in the area
of human rights on all continents in the years to come," he said.
     "We struggle today with movements of religious fundamentalism within
the churches and within the human family.  Since true faith in the Triune
God forbids enmity in God's name, Christian world communions have a
special responsibility to promote mutual respect and understanding across
the barriers of religious difference," Hanson said.
     "This year is the special 'Year dedicated to the Eucharist' in the
Roman Catholic Church," he said.  "Although we have historically used
different forms of language to express the mystery of Christ's presence in
bread and wine, Lutherans believe, with Catholics, that Christ himself is
present at the Holy Eucharist in the consecrated bread and wine 'truly and
in substance' ... and that the baptized believer receives the gift of
salvation in all its fullness," Hanson said.
     "United with the living Christ, both in the waters of Baptism and in
the bread and wine of the Eucharist, we know ourselves impelled by Christ
himself toward the visible unity of his Church," he said.

Pope Benedict XVI greets Lutheran delegation
     "It is with great joy that I welcome the representatives of the
Lutheran World Federation on the occasion of your official visit to Rome,"
Pope Benedict XVI returned the greetings.  "With gratitude I remember the
presence of your delegation both at the funeral of the late Pope John Paul
II and at the solemn inauguration of my own ministry as Bishop of Rome,"
he said.
     "For many years the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation
have enjoyed close contacts and participated in intensive ecumenical
dialogue.   This exchange of ideas has been most productive and promising.
Indeed, one of the results of this fruitful dialogue is the Joint
Declaration on Justification, which constitutes a significant milestone on
our common path to full visible unity," the pope said.
     "In order to build on this accomplishment, we must accept that
differences remain regarding the central question of justification; these
need to be addressed, together with the ways in which God's grace is
communicated in and through the Church," he said.
     Pope Benedict XVI noted the progress of the international
Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue.  "We are all aware that our fraternal
dialogue is challenged not just by the need to verify the reception of
these shared formulations of doctrine in our respective communions, but
even more so today by a general climate of uncertainty regarding Christian
truths and ethical principles which formerly went unquestioned.  This
common patrimony in certain cases is being undermined by changed
hermeneutical approaches," he said.
     "Our ecumenical path together will continue to encounter difficulties
and will demand patient dialogue.  I draw much encouragement, however,
from the solid tradition of serious study and exchange which has
characterized Catholic-Lutheran relations over the years," the pope said.

Informal Discussion between the Pope and the Lutherans
     Noko opened a period of informal discussions with a plea for the pope
to ask the Vatican's ambassador to Ethiopia to work with urgency for peace
and the restoration of human rights within that East African nation.
     The Rev.Theodor Dieter, Institute for Ecumenical Research,
Strasbourg, France, and the Rev. Joachim Track, German theologian and past
chairman of the LWF program committee for theology and studies, carried on
a brief theological discussion with the pope in German about recent
comments Pope Benedict XVI made regarding relationships between the Word
of God, its witnesses and its interpretation.
     During his formal remarks, the pope said, "I hope the future progress
of our dialogue on these issues will not only be placed in a context of
'institutional' questions, but will take into account the true source of
all ministry in the Church."
     "In fact, the mission of the Church is to witness to the truth of
Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.  Word and witness go together: the Word
calls forth and gives form to the witness; the witness derives its
authenticity from total fidelity to the Word, as expressed and lived in
the apostolic community of faith under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,"
said Pope Benedict XVI.
     Others in the Lutheran delegation were Karin Achtelstetter, LWF
deputy general secretary; Frank Imhoff, associate director, ELCA News
Service, Chicago; and the Rev. Sven Oppegaard, LWF assistant general
secretary for ecumenical affairs.
     The Lutheran delegation was accompanied by Bishop Brian Farrell,
secretary, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU), and
the Rev. Matthias Türk, PCPCU staff relating directly to Lutheran matters.
-- -- --
     The Vatican's home page is at http://www.vatican.va/ and the home
page of the Lutheran World Federation is at http://www.lutheranworld.org/
on the Web.

     The official text of Bishop Hanson's remarks is at
http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF_Greeting_Pope_Benedict_XVI_2005.pdf

     The official text of Pope Benedict XVI's remarks is at
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2005/november/documents/hf_ben_xvi_spe_20051107_lutheran-federation_en.html

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news