Reasons to hope

Lutherans have reasons to be cautiously hopeful about Pope Benedict XVI. He is acquainted with Lutherans from his service as a priest, professor and bishop in Germany. In his first mass after election, Benedict said “working to reconstitute to full and visible unity of all the followers of Christ” is crucial. Speaking of himself, he added, “The new pope knows that his task is to make the light of Christ shine before men and women of the world, not his own light, but that of Christ.” What an important reminder for all of us.