Focolare Movement

Joint Declaration on the Doctrine

Oct 31, 1999

Chiara Lubich to the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation

The day after the signing of the Joint Declaration, Bishop Krause welcomed Chiara to the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation. In her address, Chiara outlined the fundamental points of an ecumenical spirituality which has already been embraced by a number of Christians of different denominations. This ecumenical spirituality is centered on mutual love among Christians and among Churches. “Our world is in urgent need of a powerful current of love,” Chiara said. She continued: “Wherever Christians live mutual love they become more aware that they form, beyond all visible barriers of creed, the one Christian people. And this dialogue of the people is a necessary basis for ensuring that theological dialogue bears fruits.” Bishop Krause received her talk warmly, saying it “conveyed encouragement, especially in this moment of history, in this historical place, Augsburg”. He added: “I have the certainty that now the time is ripe to discover that we are gifts for one another. Yesterday’s event confirmed what you have just been emphasising. If the agreement had been reached only among theologians, without any impact on the faithful, nothing would have happened.”    

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