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reason of being Christian, remind us all the more that the ecumenism of mar-

tyrdom unites us and encourages us along the way to peace and reconciliation.

For, as Saint Paul writes: "If one member suffers, all suffer together".4

10. The mystery of Jesus who died and rose out of love lies at the heart of our

journey towards full unity. Once again, the martyrs are our guides. In the ear-

ly Church the blood of the martyrs was the seed of new Christians. So too in

our own day, may the blood of so many martyrs be the seed of unity among all

Christ's disciples, a sign and instrument of communion and peace for the world.

11. In obedience to the work of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies the Church,

keeps her throughout the ages, and leads her to full unity - that unity for

which Jesus Christ prayed:

Today we, Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II, in order to please the

heart of the Lord Jesus, as well as that of our sons and daughters in the

faith, mutually declare that we, with one mind and heart, will seek sin-

cerely not to repeat the baptism that has been administered in either of

our Churches for any person who wishes to join the other. This we confess

in obedience to the Holy Scriptures and the faith of the three Ecumenical

Councils assembled in Nicaea, Constantinople and Ephesus.

We ask God our Father to guide us, in the times and by the means that

the Holy Spirit will choose, to full unity in the mystical Body of Christ.

12. Let us, then, be guided by the teachings and the example of the Apostle

Paul, who writes: "[Make] every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the

bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to

the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and

Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all".5

Cairo, 28th April 2017

HIS HOLINESS FRANCIS HIS HOLINESS TAWADROS II

4 1Cor 12:26. 5 Eph 4:3-6.