Posted on 12/15/2014 7:36:03 AM PST by Alex Murphy
Greeting warmly a delegation led by General André Cox, the Pope said Catholics and Salvationists, together with other Christians, recognise that those in need have a special place in Gods heart so much so, that the Lord himself became poor for our sake. As a result, the Pope said, Catholics and Salvationists often meet at the same peripheries of society.
I pray, he concluded, that all of Christs disciples can contribute with the same conviction and dynamism that the Salvation Army demonstrates in its devoted and highly appreciated service. Founded by former Methodist minister William Booth in 1865 as the East London Christian Mission, the Salvation Army today numbers one and a half million members in 126 countries worldwide.
Just after the papal audience, I talked to General André Cox to find out more about the meeting and about the message of closer cooperation he was bringing here to the Vatican .
The Salvation Army leader told me he had asked for an audience because in recent years there have been some pretty intensive and helpful and useful discussions between Catholics and Salvationists, culminating in the publication of a book on the joint discussions. These talks, he said, have revealed so many points of faith that connect us together, but also our passion and commitment for social justice and work among the poor.
The audience, he continued, was an opportunity to present the book to the Pope and to express thanks and prayer support for him since many of the things hes been expressing really resonate with the heart of Salvationists around the world. Given the growing mutual understanding and respect, General Cox said he told the Pope his organisation was seeking practical ways to support each other and also align our message as we speak to the world on these issues.
Describing Pope Francis as a peoples person, the Salvation Army leader said the pontiff spoke off-the-cuff to describe his memory of walking, as a four-year old, with his grandmother in Argentina and seeing two Salvation Army ladies in their distinctive hats and uniforms. Despite the prevailing Catholic view that Protestants were destined to Hell, Bergoglios grandmother told him they were Protestants, but good people, awakening in the young boy an opening to ecumenical encounter.
General Cox also looked ahead to next July when the Salvation Army will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of its foundation, gathering with representatives from across the globe at the O2 arena in London, just a couple of miles away from where the East London Christian Mission was first founded.
Please find below the official text of Pope Francis' greeting to the Salvation Army delegation:
Dear Friends,I extend a warm welcome to you, the leadership of The Salvation Army, well-known to me for its evangelizing and charitable mission. Your visit is the happy outcome of more frequent and fruitful contacts in recent years between The Salvation Army and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, including a series of theological conversations aimed at fostering a better understanding of one another, mutual respect and regular collaboration. I earnestly hope that Catholics and Salvationists will continue to offer a common witness to Christ and to the Gospel in a world so much in need of experiencing Gods boundless mercy.
Catholics and Salvationists, together with other Christians, recognize that those in need have a special place in Gods heart, so much so that the Lord Jesus Christ himself became poor for our sake (cf. 2 Cor 8:9). As a result, Catholics and Salvationists often meet in the same peripheries of society. It is my hope that our shared faith in Jesus Christ the Saviour, the one mediator between God and man (cf. 1 Tim 2:5), will become evermore the firm foundation of friendship and cooperation between us.
The Church which goes forth is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice. An evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative; he has loved us first (cf. 1 Jn 4:19), and therefore we can move forward, boldly take the initiative, go out to others, seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads, and welcome the outcast. Such a community has an endless desire to show mercy, the fruit of its own experience of the power of the Fathers infinite mercy (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 24).
I pray that in todays world all of Christs disciples will make their contribution with the same conviction and dynamism that The Salvation Army demonstrates in its devoted and highly appreciated service. The differences between Catholics and Salvationists regarding theological and ecclesiological questions need not impede the witness of our shared love of God and love of neighbour, a love which is capable of inspiring a concerted commitment to restoring the dignity of those who live on the margins of society.
Dear friends, I pray to God for the work of The Salvation Army. May many people in difficulty continue to rely on your efforts, which enable Christs light to shine in the darkest recesses of their lives. May you and your fellow Salvationists be filled with the Holy Spirits gifts of wisdom, understanding, fortitude and peace, and so witness to the Lords Kingdom in our suffering world. And I ask that you also pray for me. Thank you.
Describing Pope Francis as a peoples person, the Salvation Army leader said the pontiff spoke off-the-cuff to describe his memory of walking, as a four-year old, with his grandmother in Argentina and seeing two Salvation Army ladies in their distinctive hats and uniforms. Despite the prevailing Catholic view that Protestants were destined to Hell, Bergoglios grandmother told him they were Protestants, but good people, awakening in the young boy an opening to ecumenical encounter....
Please find below the official text of Pope Francis' greeting to the Salvation Army delegation:
Dear Friends,I extend a warm welcome to you, the leadership of The Salvation Army, well-known to me for its evangelizing and charitable mission. Your visit is the happy outcome of more frequent and fruitful contacts in recent years between The Salvation Army and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, including a series of theological conversations aimed at fostering a better understanding of one another, mutual respect and regular collaboration. I earnestly hope that Catholics and Salvationists will continue to offer a common witness to Christ and to the Gospel in a world so much in need of experiencing Gods boundless mercy.
Catholics and Salvationists, together with other Christians, recognize that those in need have a special place in Gods heart, so much so that the Lord Jesus Christ himself became poor for our sake (cf. 2 Cor 8:9). As a result, Catholics and Salvationists often meet in the same peripheries of society. It is my hope that our shared faith in Jesus Christ the Saviour, the one mediator between God and man (cf. 1 Tim 2:5), will become evermore the firm foundation of friendship and cooperation between us.
The Church which goes forth is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice. An evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative; he has loved us first (cf. 1 Jn 4:19), and therefore we can move forward, boldly take the initiative, go out to others, seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads, and welcome the outcast. Such a community has an endless desire to show mercy, the fruit of its own experience of the power of the Fathers infinite mercy (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 24).
I pray that in todays world all of Christs disciples will make their contribution with the same conviction and dynamism that The Salvation Army demonstrates in its devoted and highly appreciated service. The differences between Catholics and Salvationists regarding theological and ecclesiological questions need not impede the witness of our shared love of God and love of neighbour, a love which is capable of inspiring a concerted commitment to restoring the dignity of those who live on the margins of society.
Dear friends, I pray to God for the work of The Salvation Army. May many people in difficulty continue to rely on your efforts, which enable Christs light to shine in the darkest recesses of their lives. May you and your fellow Salvationists be filled with the Holy Spirits gifts of wisdom, understanding, fortitude and peace, and so witness to the Lords Kingdom in our suffering world. And I ask that you also pray for me. Thank you.
Salvation Army Rocks! I have attended multiple Salvation Army Churches, they are truly wonderful Christians. They Love Jesus, I dont think you will run into a liberal Democrat Salvation Army member. For starters liberal Christianity, the term is a oxymoron.
The way this guy in white is attempting to rope in all the various denominations of Christendom, makes me give him a Spock-ian eyebrow!
(the fishwrap is starting to permeate)
Unlike many American Catholics, I think the Salvation Army are still traditional, believing Christians.
well, we can at least agree to disagree without tossing knives at each other. I’d rather agree to disagree with someone who holds Jesus Christ as Lord, God and Savior rather than an athiest or non-Christians
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.