The Light of Christ and the Church

Taking the theme of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly, 'The Light of Christ Shines upon All,' the author reflects on the foundation and importance of ecumenical work in the Christian Churches. Emphasizing the shared common ground of faith, Cardinal Kasper underlines that our differences are always secondary to our common foundation in Jesus Christ, and this is something that ought never to be let out of sight. Ecumenical dialogue now needs to go beyond merely pointing out areas of convergence and engage more earnestly in learning from one another. Christianity is central to European identity and if Europe is to have a future, it needs a shared vision and a shared set of basic values.