Q: I recall the Synod on Synodality and Pope Francis’ mentioning “Christian unity.” What do they mean by this? From my understanding, it seems that this is not about the conversion of non-Catholics to the Catholic faith. Which would be different than what I have read in the encyclical of Pope Pius XI on religious unity, Mortalium Animos. Please help me have better clarity on the matter. Thank you. — Renee

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC:

The ideal in the Church has always been for unity. Jesus at the last supper, in fact, prayed for those who profess belief in him, “that they may all be one” (John 17:21).

In a nutshell, the Church in the later 20th century softened its language about non-Catholic Christians, even if its goal of unity remains the same.

The Church had done its own soul-searching and settled on a more pastoral approach when speaking with those in the Protestant tradition.

The Church emphasized that all Christians need to move closer to Christ; in doing so, we move closer to one another, like people converging on the same point.

None of this implies that the Church is deficient in its doctrines or sacraments.

Rather, we constantly need to strive for holiness and to reform the deficiencies found in our human institutions and ourselves.

In the words of the Second Vatican Council dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium, “The Church, embracing in its bosom sinners, at the same time holy and always in need of being purified, always follows the way of penance and renewal” (No. 8).

Being aware of that and recognizing that we can also learn things from non-Catholics, the vocabulary is more on Christian unity, which is more palatable in an age of ecumenism.

Ultimately, though, Christian unity means everyone in the one Church founded by Our Lord.

For further reading, see St. John Paul II’s encyclical Ut Unum Sint.

I hope that some of this helps.