His Holiness, The Most Revd Dr Rufus Ositelu, has reiterated the importance of unity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among Christian denominations, describing these values as the hallmark of effective ecumenical leadership.
According to His Holiness, the rich diversity of Christian traditions, institutions and liturgical expressions should be recognised and appreciated rather than becoming a source of hostility, division or rivalry.
He emphasised that meaningful Christian unity can only be achieved through patient dialogue, mutual understanding, respect and a genuine willingness to learn from the spiritual heritage and contributions of other Christian traditions.
He further highlighted the need to build common ground among the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Indigenous, Pentecostal and Independent Christian traditions, stressing that their differences should serve as opportunities for mutual enrichment rather than division.
Quoting the biblical teaching in John 17:21, where Jesus Christ prayed for the unity of His followers, His Holiness reaffirmed that Christian unity remains essential to strengthening the Church's collective witness to the world.
He noted that the prayer of Christ, "that they may all be one," carries a profound message about the importance of unity among believers and the need to demonstrate God's love through cooperation, understanding and fellowship.
The message serves as a reminder that genuine ecumenism is not about abandoning individual Christian identities but embracing diversity while working together towards a common faith and purpose.
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