change language
you are in: home - ecumenis...dialogue - internat...or peace - septembe...or peace - news fro... meeting newslettercontact uslink

Support the Community

  
September 12 2011 | MUNICH, GERMANY

Persecuted Christians – Cardinal Koch: in today’s world the Christian faith is the most persecuted religion. The ecumenism of martyrs

 
printable version

Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian unity, spoke at length today about ecumenism and martyrdom in his speech at the International meeting of the Community of Sant’Egidio, “Bound to Live Together. Religions and Cultures in Dialogue”, taking place in Munich.
“In today’s world, Christianity is the most persecuted religion. 80% of those persecuted because of their faith are Christians”, said Koch. “This disturbing figure represents a major challenge for Christian ecumenism, called upon to show effective solidarity. Since today all Churches and Christian ecclesiastical communities have their martyrs, we are dealing with a true ecumenism of martyrs. While we, as Christians and as Churches, live on this earth in an as yet imperfect communion, the martyrs in their celestial glory find themselves in full and perfect communion”.
Speaking before the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, the Metropolitan of the Patriarchy of Moscow, Filaret, the President of the World Lutheran Federation Munib Younan, and Mary Tanner, Co-President of the Ecumenical Council of Churches, Koch asserted: 
 “Today, as Christians, we must live in the hope that the blood of modern-day martyrs may some day become the seed of full unity of the Body of Christ. But we have to demonstrate this hope in a credible manner, by helping persecuted Christians, publicly denouncing situations of martyrdom and getting involved in efforts on behalf of respect for religious freedom and human dignity. The ecumenism of martyrs, therefore, is not merely the core of ecumenical spirituality, particularly needed today, but it is also the best illustration of the inseparability of the promotion of Christian unity and preferential love for the poor”.


 ALSO READ
• NEWS
October 11 2017
HAVANA, CUBA

Religions gather in Havana to open Paths of Peace in Cuba

IT | EN | ES | DE | NL | ID
October 5 2017

October 5th, World Teachers' Day 2017: Let everyone go to school... of language, culture, and peace!

IT | EN | ID
September 25 2017
JOS, NIGERIA

The Spirit of Assisi in Nigeria: in Jos Christians and Muslims in dialogue to open new Paths of Peace

IT | EN | ES | DE | CA
September 22 2017
MÜNSTER, GERMANY

Paths of Peace: textes, videos and news of the International Meeting of prayer for peace of Münster

IT | EN | ES | FR | CA
September 14 2017

At the Roots of Terrorism. VIDEO

IT | EN | FR
September 12 2017
MÜNSTER, GERMANY

#pathsofpeace: world religions launch a movement to prevent conflicts. Next year's appointment in Bologna

IT | EN | NL
all the news
• PRESS
March 13 2018
RP ONLINE

Flucht, Abi, Studium

February 23 2018
Domradio.de

"Wir können Frieden organisieren wie andere den Krieg"

February 10 2018
SIR

50° Sant’Egidio: Gentiloni (presidente del Consiglio), “dalla condizione dei più deboli si misura il benessere autentico di una società”

February 10 2018
Il Sole 24 ore

Migranti, Gentiloni: sbagliato promettere fine dei flussi

February 8 2018
SIR

Migrazioni: Pompei (Comunità Sant’Egidio), “nuove modalità di ingresso in Italia più flessibili ed efficienti”

February 5 2018
SIR

Immigrazione: Comunità Sant’Egidio, oggi anche la ministra Fedeli alla consegna dei diplomi per mediatori interculturali

the entire press review
• EVENTS
January 25 2018

Ökumenischer Gottesdienst in der Gebetswoche für die Einheit der Christen

ALL PRAYER MEETINGS FOR PEACE
• DOCUMENTS
Comunità di Sant'Egidio

Cinque proposte sull’immigrazione

Appello al Parlamento ungherese sui profughi e i minori richiedenti asilo

ASSISI 2016 - il programma in pdf

Ahmad Al Tayyeb - Oriente e Occidente - Dialoghi di civiltà - Parigi 2016

all documents