Pope Benedict XVI to visit Lutheran Church in Rome

For the first time during his pontificate, Benedict XVI will visit a Lutheran Church in Rome. The visit will take place March 14th. This visit comes on the heels of other meetings hes had with Lutherans at the Vatican.

The President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper hinted of a possible visit during a press conference in October.

The visit is part of the Churchs call for ecumenical dialogue and the search for all Christians including Lutherans, to share the same fundamentals of the Christian faith.

This isnt the time the pope shows a sign of strengthening relations between Catholics and Lutherans. In November of 2009, the pope celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification between Catholics and Lutherans.

The declaration marked the end of the one of the issues that split both sides since the Reformation, after both acknowledged that faith and acts of faith are necessary for ones salvation.

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[TheEcumenator]

In ze presence of Christ all things are bearable!

[BlackCappa]

It'd be less confusing for Catholics if we returned the the "ecumenism of return" when talking to schismatics.

[USAsoldier1955]

PHONY liberal Lutherans, rejected by millions of orthodox Lutheran Christians worldwide! The Lutheran Christian Faith IS The Biblical Catholic Faith, opposed to all Popery!

[OneChrisCampbell]

the dividing point is not on liturgy, it's on doctrine eg papal infallibility.

[DarthMambo]

@cloudsurfer007 The liturgy is indeed very similar, but liturgy has never really been the dividing point.

[cloudsurfer007]

Benedict should try attending a Luthern Mass.

He'd find the liturgies are almost identical.

[12buhbauy0987]

In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God bless Pope Benedict XVI, the Roman Catholic Church and the Whole World today and forever!!! Catholicism is the fullness of Christianity. The History of Christianity is the History of the Catholic Church, and NOT of the protestants.

[BlackCappa]

@TheEcumenator

I hope they do come back home. But I cannot but think of Anglicans: official talks with their "head", but Anglo-Catholics returned without him even knowing! :P

[TheEcumenator]

oh no doubts, they must be converted in order to be saved, but i just think its a good start to bring more closer to the church

[BlackCappa]

@TheEcumenator

Denying sola fide in the wording of sola fide. I personally think that the declaration is a pretty diplomatic document: and you know what I think of such things :P

I prefer clarity.

[TheEcumenator]

well this declaration of the lutherans denying sola fide was only possible through ecumenism.

yes it is a slow process but it happens