Letter from the Bishop of Worcester

Together with the Roman Catholic Archbishopof Birmingham, Bernard Longley, I recently led an ecumenical pilgrimage toRome, accompanied by 20 Anglican and 20 Roman Catholic pilgrims.

One of the highlights was a general audienceof the Pope in St Peters Square.Therewere many thousands of people at that audience, as there are every Wednesdaymorning, but we were very fortunate to be singled out and warmly greeted by thePope who asked us for our prayers for him. Dont forget! he added.

At the heart of such audiences is a simpleBible study, given by the Pope in Italian and translated into a number oflanguages. On this occasion he reflected on the occasion recounted in Acts 8when the apostle Philip met the Ethiopian who was reading a passagefrom the prophet Isaiah. As he said:

Yet, without aguide, he is unable to understand its full meaning. Philip explains tohim how the Old Testament prophecies reach their fulfilment in Christ. Asa result, the Ethiopian professes his faith in Jesus, and asks to be baptised. From the baptismal waters he emerges no longer a stranger, but a member of theBody of Christ. The dialogue in this encounter reveals to us the key toreading the Scriptures: namely, Christ. Let us pray that the Holy Spiritwill strengthen all the baptised to follow the example of Philip in bearingwitness to the saving power of the Gospel and bringing others to Jesus.

May we remember that the key to understandingthe scriptures is Jesus and bring others to him by witness to the saving powerof the Gospel recorded in them.

+John