Pope Leo XIV has held up Finland as a powerful example of how Christians can live and work together in unity, grounded in shared hope and faith, during a meeting with a Finnish ecumenical delegation at the Vatican.
According to Vatican News, the Pope met with Lutheran, Orthodox, and Catholic representatives on the Feast of Saint Henrik, marking the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The delegation’s visit also coincided with the 750th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Turku, a milestone noted during the audience.
Reflecting on the theme of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity — “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” — Pope Leo XIV emphasized that Christian hope flows directly from the faith believers share in common. He explained that this hope is rooted in “the one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins,” which he described as “the very root of all Christian fraternity,” according to Vatican News.
The Pope acknowledged that many people in today’s world are struggling with despair, observing that they are often “tempted by a sense of hopelessness.” In response, he said Christians have “the essential mission, as Christian messengers of hope, to bring the Lord’s light into the darkest corners of our world,” according to the report.
Although the Jubilee of Hope has ended, Pope Leo made clear that the Christian message does not fade with the close of a special year. “Our Christian hope knows no end and no limit,” he said, encouraging believers to witness to that hope not only through words, but also through “charitable deeds,” strengthened by Christ, whom he called “the very incarnation of hope for all,” according to Vatican News.
Turning his attention specifically to Finland, the Pope praised what he called concrete expressions of unity among Christians there. He welcomed Finland’s reputation as “a model country for ecumenism,” highlighting the way Orthodox, Lutheran, and Catholic communities work together to promote a “culture of hope, dignity, and compassion,” according to Vatican News.
Pope Leo also expressed gratitude for the shared commitment among these communities to affirm that “the development of palliative and end-of-life care must continue,” pointing to this cooperation as an example of faith put into action.
The Pope further noted the importance of the Nordic Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s reception of the document Communion in Growth, calling it “a valuable milestone on the ecumenical journey,” according to Vatican News. He added that such efforts, along with the long-standing tradition of jointly celebrating Saint Henrik’s Day, are “eloquent signs of a practical and fruitful ecumenism.”
As the meeting concluded, Pope Leo encouraged the delegation as the International Catholic–Lutheran Dialogue prepares to enter its next phase. Entrusting them to the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul and Saint Henrik, he invited those present to pray the Our Father together, describing it as a sign of their shared faith and communion, according to Vatican News.
For Catholics, the Pope’s message serves as a reminder that unity among Christians is not merely an abstract goal, but a lived reality — one that can offer hope to a world in need when believers choose cooperation, charity, and faithfulness to Christ.
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