Sir, - Contrary to the impression created by a letter from Mr Leslie Craven (July 5th), the visit of Pope John Paul 11 to Germany last month had a marked ecumenical dimension.
On June 22nd, the Pope met representatives of the Council of the Protestant Church in Germany and the Board of the Association of Christian. Churches in Paderborn. At that meeting the Pope referred to the Protestant Church's document. The Condemnations of the Reformation Era. Do they still divide? and said that, thanks to its study, "differences have been resolved which previous generations considered irreconcilable". He said progress had been made possible because "methodologically a strict distinction was made between the deposit of faith and the formulation in which it is expressed."
Another topic on which the Pope said there was a growing consensus was that of the doctrine of justification. "Any understanding between Lutherans and Catholics on this important question will inevitably open up the possibility of similar clarifications with "non-Lutheran Protestant Churches", he commented.
Addressing an ecumenical service that day in the Paderborn Cathedral, Pope John Paul said: "Our striving today for a common witness for unity cannot go without dealing with Martin Luther. Today, 450 years after his death, it is possible after the passage of time to better understand the person and work of the German reformer and to do better justice to him.
"Luther's thinking was characterised by considerable emphasis on the individual, which meant that the awareness of the requirements of society became weaker. Luther's original intention in his call for reform in the Church was a call to repentance and renewal to begin in the life of every individual.
"There are many reasons why these beginnings nevertheless led to division. One is the failure of the Catholic Church, already lamented in moving words by Pope Hadrian IV, and the intrusion of political and economic interest,, as well as Luther's own passion, which drove him far beyond what he originally intended into radical criticism of the Catholic Church, of its way of teaching. We all bear the guilt. That is why we are called upon to repent and must all allow the Lord to cleanse us over and over. Yours, etc.,
Assistant Director, Catholic Press & Information Office, Dublin.