SW News: Unity in diversity is the spirit of the ecumenical journey, said the pope at the Bahrain inter-denominational prayer service on Friday evening. During the ecumenical service at Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral in Awali, the pontiff also mentioned the witness of life transcending differences.

The Holy Father said that “the Holy Spirit who joins all members together is greater than our divisions according to the flesh”. Recalling the Pentecost, the pope said the smallness of the believers in Bahrain “helps us feel the need for unity”. Coming back to unity in diversity, the pontiff said that being united does not mean uniformity. However, it embodies diversity in spite of differences.
His Holiness the pope also spoke of the witness of life citing the experience of the disciples when they were led by the Holy Spirit. He said Christian witness is most manifested through action rather than words, adding that faith is not privilege that can be claimed, but it is a gift that has to be shared. He summed up by saying the Spirit unites us and sends us; He gathers us in communion and sends us on a mission.

When he arrived for the ecumenical prayer service, Pope Francis was greeted by the representatives of various Apostolic and Protestant Churches. They included Fr Paul Mathew of the Indian Orthodox Church, Fr Rojan of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Fr Roweis George of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Bishop Michael Lewis of the Anglican Church in Cyprus, Archimandrite Bedros Manuelian of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Hazim Ghattas of the Greek Orthodox Church and Rev. Dileep Davidson of the Church of South India, which is part of the global Anglican Communion.

Also present in the cathedral were His Beatitude Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of the Greek Orthodox Church; Cardinal George Alencherry, the Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church; Cardinal Baselios Cleemis of the Syro Malankara Church; Cardinal Bechara Rai of the Maronite Church and Cardinal Ignace Joseph III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church.

After accepting floral baskets from children, the pope paused for a moment to pray in the chapel of Our Lady of Arabia before being taken to the sanctuary to join the other representatives of various Churches.

Following the opening hymn, there was a prayer for unity by the pope followed by a reading from the Acts of Apostles. The homily was followed by prayers for various intentions by members of other Churches. The first prayer for peace and security was said by Fr Paul Mathew and the second one for Church leaders was recited by Fr Roweis George.

It was followed by a prayer for an end to violence and deadly weapons which was read out by Fr Rojan. The next prayer was for those suffering from violence, conflict and disasters and it was recited by Archimandrite Bedros Manuelian. Then there was a prayer for all believers in Bahrain by Bishop Hazim Ghattas. The last one was for people of other religions and it was recited by Rev. Dileep Davidson.

After the prayers, the priests and prelates came down with lighted candles to place them on a stand in front of the sanctuary. Then Bartholomew gave the concluding benediction and blessed the congregation with the pope and other priests and prelates. After the benediction, the choir intoned “Make me a channel of your peace” bringing the ceremony to a close.