The first ever meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Rev Dr Samuel Kobia since both took up their current positions was held on Thursday 16th June, and was witnessed by a small private audience.
The two organisations have both shown their pursuit in unifying all Christians, which is seen as an encouraging step in the ecumenical movement worldwide.
Pope Benedict XVI was quoted by the Associated Press: "The commitment of the Catholic Church to the search for Christian unity is irreversible."
In his remarks, Pope Benedict XVI also assured Kobia that the church he heads is "eager to continue cooperation" with the WCC, and expressed hope that the visit had been "fruitful, strengthening the bonds of understanding and friendship between us".
The WCC is the world’s largest ecumenical fellowship of more than 300 churches from nearly all Christian traditions, including Protestant and the Orthodox. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member of the WCC but works cooperatively with it in several areas, and is a full member of two of the Council's commissions: Faith and Order, and World Mission and Evangelism.
Since Pope Benedict XVI was elected as the new pope after the late John Paul II, he has repeatedly vowed that uniting all Christians and healing the 1,000-year-old rift with the Orthodox Church a "primary" task of his papacy.
Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, a Methodist pastor and general secretary of the Geneva-based council, said he was encouraged by the Pope’s pledges.
Kobia told the audience yesterday his visit took place in the perspective of a long history of common commitment to the one ecumenical movement. The collaboration between the Roman Catholic Church and the WCC has been maintained through a Joint Working Group formed on 1965, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in November in Geneva.
