Together on the way: letter from young Protestants and Catholics

Rome (NEV), February 8, 2021 – The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (SPUC) ended on January 25. On the occasion, the Protestant Youth Federation in Italy (FGEI) and the Italian Catholic University Federation (FUCI) signed a document that represents the common path of young people at ecumenical level.

“The challenges we had to face over the past year and on the threshold of this just begun one, recall the invitation that Jesus Christ addresses to us to be united and to act together  with increasing urgency” write FGEI and FUCI.

Grateful “for the fruits and steps shared along the path of the ecumenical journey”, the young men and women of the two Christian movements underline the joy of sharing, which “leads us to look forward with hope and with a broader vision, recognizing that there are still many steps to take: there are still many reasons, many moments that lead to a separation or to a formal communion rather than to a spiritual one. The encounter that lays the foundations for a theological dialogue and for co-operation as workers in the Lord’s vineyard still needs to be worked on and experienced”. The theme of this year SPUC “Remain in my love: you will produce much fruit” (John 15: 5-9) – the letter continues – “invites us to recognize, beyond the theological, historical and ecclesiological differences  that characterize us, the unity of baptism as common source of faith. Because of this faith, in fact, we feel challenged  to a common call to discipleship, seeing in fraternal communion and in sharing the place to mature and confirm it on a daily basis”.

The document focuses on the Word, conversion, acceptance, and mutual support. It focuses also on Creation in order “to be able to take care of it, realizing that we are part of a plan greater than ourselves”.

The document concludes with these words: “The rhythm that marks these eight days invites us to look and become aware of that part of the unknown and unexpected that the Covid-19 pandemic has placed before us: death, suffering, distrust and fear have burst into our lives, yet we know that we cannot isolate them, but that we must reconnect them to all those aspects of powerlessness and real difficulty that have been put on display. Our communities have rediscovered the fragility of existence but also the vulnerability of social ties, the precariousness of economic and health systems, the frangibility of political and social structures. Structural limits against which we do not want to run aground, but which we want to bring into the transforming power of prayer, beginning with recognizing our role in this crisis. But we are confident that these limits can also be the places from which to restart for a new reality to live in and a new awareness of the protection of the supreme good. As branches of the only vine in which we are called to live, in order to be able to bring together the fruits and live them in the perspective of reciprocity and charity. Could this be another stretch of road to share? We agree to answer ‘yes’ “.