Saints are models of discipleship, not ecumenical obstacles, pope says

By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Devotion to the saints should not be something that separates Christians, especially because the saints are models of following Jesus and can inspire others to do likewise, Pope Francis said.

The pope welcomed an ecumenical pilgrimage from Finland that was celebrating the country's patron, St. Henrik, or Henry, a 12th-century bishop. The pilgrimage was led by Lutheran Bishop Bo-Göran Åstrand of Porvoo and Bishop Raimo Goyarrola Belda, the new Catholic bishop of Helsinki.

"There have times when the veneration of saints seemed to divide rather than unite believers -- Catholics and Orthodox on the one hand, and Evangelicals on the other," the pope told them Jan. 19. "But this should not be the case and, in fact, has never been the case in the faith of God's holy faithful people."

Pope Francis noted that the Lutheran foundational document, the Augsburg Confession, says, "the saints should be remembered to strengthen our faith when we see how they received grace and how they were helped by faith; and to take example from their good works."

Christians, already united in baptism, share "a journey and our common goal is Jesus Christ," the pope said. "This goal is not far away, it is not unreachable, because our Lord has come to meet us in his mercy, he came close in the Incarnation and made himself the way, so that we can walk safely past the crossroads and false directions the world often gives."

The saints, Pope Francis said, "are brothers and sisters who have walked this road all the way and arrived at the goal. They accompany us as living witnesses of Christ, our way, truth and life. They encourage us to stay on the path of discipleship even when we struggle, when we fall."

"Like lights kindled by God," the pope said, the saints "shine before us so that we do not lose sight of the goal."