Luther wanted to renew the Church, says Pope

Pope Francis has told Lutheran pilgrims from Finland that Martin Luther’s intention 500 years ago “was to renew the Church, not divide her”.

The Pope was speaking to an Evangelical Lutheran delegation led by Archbishop Kari Mäkinen of Turku, which visits Rome each year during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

He said: “True ecumenism is based on a shared conversion to Jesus Christ as our Lord and redeemer. If we draw close to him, we draw close also to one another.” He added that “a communion of harmony” would help Catholics and Lutherans “find further convergence on points of doctrine and the moral teaching of the Church”.