(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 06.20.2024).
- On Thursday morning, June 20, Pope Francis received in audience a delegation from the Lutheran World Federation (a global communion of churches in the Lutheran tradition comprising 75.5 million people). The Federation celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2022.
Below is a translation of the Pope’s speech: *** Dear brothers and sisters, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom 15:13). I extend a warm welcome to all of you, the regional delegates of the Lutheran World Federation. I am especially grateful for the kind words and the gift presented to me by the new President, Bishop Henrik Stubkjær.
I also greet the Reverend Anne Burghardt, who has served as General Secretary for a number of years. Thank you for your visit, which I consider an important gesture of ecumenical fraternity. For this reason, in my initial greeting I chose the words of the Apostle Paul from the Letter to the Romans, words that have accompanied your recent consultations.
May the “God of hope” now also bless our meeting today. For all of us are pilgrims of hope, as we are reminded by the motto chosen for the Holy Year of 2025. Three years ago, when another delegation of the Lutheran World Federation came here to Rome, we reflected together on celebrating the approaching anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea as an ecumenical event.
Last year, at the General A.
