AAS 74 - Vaticano

944 Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale
This is as it should be, for unity is God's gracious gift, and all our
other efforts to do his will are vain if they are not rooted in change
of heart, in holiness of life and in prayer for unity : these are the very
soul of the ecumenical movement. 2
I have been happy to learn of the degree of coopération that
exists between Oatholics and members of other Churches and Com-
munities in Wales, and of the part played by Catholic consultors and
observers in the work of the Council of Churches in Wales. Last
Saturday at Canterbury I was able to have a longer meeting with
a group of British church leaders, among them the représentatives of
the Churches of this country. Such meetings are important, for they
bear witness to our desire to fulfil God's will for our unity with him
and with each other, in his Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This witness is ali the more needed in these troubled days in which
the peace of the world is so sorely threatened. Let us then pray
together, in the words our Saviour gave us.
* * *
In hortis « Ninian Park », apud Cardiffam, ad iuvenes Anglicos et Cam-
brienses ibi congregatos habita.*
Dear young people, dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
As my visit to Britain draws to an end, I am happy that this last
meeting is with you—the youth of England and Wales, you who are
the hope of tomorrow.
I have come to this land as a pilgrim pastor, a servant of Jesus
Christ. I have come to proclaim Christ's Gospel of peace and réc­
onciliation ; I have come to celebrate his saving action in the sacra-
ments of the Church. I have come to call you to Christ.
1. Before I go away, there is something really important that I
wish to emphasize. There is something very closely linked to the
sacraments that I have celebrated, something that is essential to your
Christian lives. It is prayer. Prayer is so important that Jesus
himself tells us: "Pray constantly". 1
2
Cf. Unitatis Redintegratio, 8.
* Die 2 m. Iunii a. 1982.
1
Lk 21:36.
He wants us to pray for light