What do you think?
Rate this book
Encyclicals of Pope John Paul II
Ut Unum Sint
Book by Pope John Paul II.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
3 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Pope John Paul II
1,046 books631 followersSaint Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected Pope at the Conclave of 16 October 1978, and he took the name of John Paul II. On 22 October, the Lord's Day, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. His pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 12, 2022
5/5⭐
No estaba en mis planes leer ésta encíclica que en español se llama "Que todos sean uno" y plantea la unidad entre los cristianos de diferentes credos pero que siguen a Cristo. De hecho éste tipo de literatura no es nada fácil de leer para mí. Mi intención era leer un libro que me sugirieron "evidencia que exige un veredicto" y de hecho lo empecé a leer pero el prólogo me resultó apologetico. Respeto a quien lo práctica pero sentí al libro un tanto fanático. Entonces lo consulté con una persona muy creyente y me dijo: La apologética católica es la parte de la teología que busca explicar las razones de la fe. Demuestra las razones de la doctrina ante los adversarios y señala los errores para proteger su integridad. ... La apologética católica es la parte de la teología que busca explicar las razones de la fe(...) no soy de recomendar esas cosas" y me sugirió ésta encíclica que habla del ecumenismo. La razón es que el libro citado arriba no es de autor católico sino de un autor Bautista (respeto a las personas de ésta religión, de hecho yo tuve un tío Bautista y era UN SEÑOR" nada de fanatismo. Como pasa en la religión católica) y de ahí que me sugirió ésta encíclica.
Me costó comprenderla, de hecho al principio me parecía chino pero a medida que iba leyendo fui comprendiendo. A continuación dejaré un par de citas. Otra opinión no puedo dar porque soy incapaz pero sí decir que me sirvió como aprendizaje porque a su vez estoy leyendo "los iluminados" de Marcos Aguines dónde se plasma el fanatismo religioso de sectas (década del 50) y la corrupción entre otras razones. Me vino muy bien. Es un libro que habla de cómo debería ser un diálogo ecumenico.
Recomiendo a todos aquellos que quieran conocer sobre el ecumenismo porque descubrirán grandes cosas como ser: que otros credos también comulgan, tienen episcopado, etc.
Algunas citas:
"la doctrina debe ser presentada de un modo que sea comprensible para aquéllos a quienes Dios la destina."
"Comprendieron pues que no podían « imponer a los pueblos, cuya evangelización les encomendaron, ni siquiera la indiscutible superioridad de la lengua griega y de la cultura bizantina, o los usos y comportamientos de la sociedad más avanzada, en la que ellos habían crecido ». Así hacían realidad aquella « perfecta comunión en el amor preserva a la Iglesia de cualquier forma de particularismo o de exclusivismo étnico o de prejuicio racial, así como de cualquier orgullo nacionalista ».
No estaba en mis planes leer ésta encíclica que en español se llama "Que todos sean uno" y plantea la unidad entre los cristianos de diferentes credos pero que siguen a Cristo. De hecho éste tipo de literatura no es nada fácil de leer para mí. Mi intención era leer un libro que me sugirieron "evidencia que exige un veredicto" y de hecho lo empecé a leer pero el prólogo me resultó apologetico. Respeto a quien lo práctica pero sentí al libro un tanto fanático. Entonces lo consulté con una persona muy creyente y me dijo: La apologética católica es la parte de la teología que busca explicar las razones de la fe. Demuestra las razones de la doctrina ante los adversarios y señala los errores para proteger su integridad. ... La apologética católica es la parte de la teología que busca explicar las razones de la fe(...) no soy de recomendar esas cosas" y me sugirió ésta encíclica que habla del ecumenismo. La razón es que el libro citado arriba no es de autor católico sino de un autor Bautista (respeto a las personas de ésta religión, de hecho yo tuve un tío Bautista y era UN SEÑOR" nada de fanatismo. Como pasa en la religión católica) y de ahí que me sugirió ésta encíclica.
Me costó comprenderla, de hecho al principio me parecía chino pero a medida que iba leyendo fui comprendiendo. A continuación dejaré un par de citas. Otra opinión no puedo dar porque soy incapaz pero sí decir que me sirvió como aprendizaje porque a su vez estoy leyendo "los iluminados" de Marcos Aguines dónde se plasma el fanatismo religioso de sectas (década del 50) y la corrupción entre otras razones. Me vino muy bien. Es un libro que habla de cómo debería ser un diálogo ecumenico.
Recomiendo a todos aquellos que quieran conocer sobre el ecumenismo porque descubrirán grandes cosas como ser: que otros credos también comulgan, tienen episcopado, etc.
Algunas citas:
"la doctrina debe ser presentada de un modo que sea comprensible para aquéllos a quienes Dios la destina."
"Comprendieron pues que no podían « imponer a los pueblos, cuya evangelización les encomendaron, ni siquiera la indiscutible superioridad de la lengua griega y de la cultura bizantina, o los usos y comportamientos de la sociedad más avanzada, en la que ellos habían crecido ». Así hacían realidad aquella « perfecta comunión en el amor preserva a la Iglesia de cualquier forma de particularismo o de exclusivismo étnico o de prejuicio racial, así como de cualquier orgullo nacionalista ».
November 26, 2021
This is a kind of Situation Report on progress with Ecumenism, 30 years after Vatican II’s decree (Unitatis Redintegratio) committed Catholics to pursuing it in a more vigorous way than they had done previously.
As such, parts of the document are an interesting and informative read. This is especially so where it is providing genuinely new information about fruitful dialogues which have taken place in the intervening years since Vatican II (1962-65). For example it records Pope John Paul II’s links with Patriarch Dimitrios I in 1987.
But the document also spends significant amount of time just repeating and reiterating what the original Vatican II decree said. It doesn’t provide new arguments or explanations of the original claims. It just enlarges upon principles already established. This makes the resulting document, at almost 30,000 words, 4 times longer than the Vatican II decree which it is effectively reporting on.
Despite its length it doesn’t really add anything new or significant, ‘theologically’ to what was said at Vatican II. This is a shame, and it is a lost opportunity. Some Catholics have rejected the theology of Ecumenism expounded at Vatican II, and have left the Church over the issue. So there is an arguable pastoral need for the Church to engage those Catholics with improved reasons and explanations of its original document.
But this document doesn’t do so. It is just a (much) longer version of the original document, with some anecdotal reflections added. This is a shame as Pope John Paul II showed himself perfectly able to respond intellectually to critics of Catholic theology in Veritatis Splendor (1993) and Fides et Ratio (1998), so why hasn't he done the same here?
Overall, the document is relatively easy to read, but I found its prolixity to be disappointingly vague, in that it failed to address the questions and problems of those who rejected the original document (Unitatis Redintegratio) which it is celebrating.
As such, parts of the document are an interesting and informative read. This is especially so where it is providing genuinely new information about fruitful dialogues which have taken place in the intervening years since Vatican II (1962-65). For example it records Pope John Paul II’s links with Patriarch Dimitrios I in 1987.
But the document also spends significant amount of time just repeating and reiterating what the original Vatican II decree said. It doesn’t provide new arguments or explanations of the original claims. It just enlarges upon principles already established. This makes the resulting document, at almost 30,000 words, 4 times longer than the Vatican II decree which it is effectively reporting on.
Despite its length it doesn’t really add anything new or significant, ‘theologically’ to what was said at Vatican II. This is a shame, and it is a lost opportunity. Some Catholics have rejected the theology of Ecumenism expounded at Vatican II, and have left the Church over the issue. So there is an arguable pastoral need for the Church to engage those Catholics with improved reasons and explanations of its original document.
But this document doesn’t do so. It is just a (much) longer version of the original document, with some anecdotal reflections added. This is a shame as Pope John Paul II showed himself perfectly able to respond intellectually to critics of Catholic theology in Veritatis Splendor (1993) and Fides et Ratio (1998), so why hasn't he done the same here?
Overall, the document is relatively easy to read, but I found its prolixity to be disappointingly vague, in that it failed to address the questions and problems of those who rejected the original document (Unitatis Redintegratio) which it is celebrating.
June 7, 2023
L´oecuménisme n´est pas seulement une politique de rapprochement. Bien plus fondamentalement, c'est une nécessité pour évangéliser l´univers et un devoir qui nous est donné par le Christ.
January 19, 2018
This encyclical is helpful reading for all Christians and people of good will. In it, St. JPII clearly reminds us of Jesus' prayer for unity amongst his followers, namely, "That they may be one". Rather than throwing yet another religious argument into the vastly populated mix, St. JPII calmly and clearly reminds the reader that multiple parties, Catholics included, are responsible for the divisions within Christianity. He explains the dangers of violent disagreements as well as the dangers of ignoring our differences altogether. He urges calm, sensible discussions that will be fruitful for unity and cites many examples of Christians of different denominations overcoming obstacles and coming together to serve as the mystical Body of Christ. Ultimately, the "People's Pope" reminds the reader that Christian unity is not merely the job of the clergy, but rather the responsibility of all Christians.
On a personal note, the book offered several bits of wisdom and practical advice that I will apply when dealing with my family who sometimes find themselves grappling with my Catholic beliefs. I would highly recommend this work to anyone who finds him or herself in the same situation.
On a personal note, the book offered several bits of wisdom and practical advice that I will apply when dealing with my family who sometimes find themselves grappling with my Catholic beliefs. I would highly recommend this work to anyone who finds him or herself in the same situation.
September 27, 2011
This encyclical from 1995 is both a great recap of the efforts of the Catholic Church in fostering ecumenism since the Second Vatican Council and a deep meditation on the importance and necessity of working for the reintegration of Christian denominations so that we may all be one in God as Jesus prays in John 17. The two keys are (1) to desire unity with the pureness of heart found in genuine Love and (2) to seek the truth about others and ourselves and God and the bible. No small order, but that is what we are called to. The encyclical is very inspiring and is intended not only for church leaders at the highest levels but for all Christians, for we are all called to unity in Christ.
March 17, 2020
Traditional Catholics, Liberal Catholics, evangelical Protestants, and mainline Protestants ought to read this profound encyclical. Pope John Paul II not only affirms the ecumenical movement, which was considered “liberal” by both Protestants and Catholics, but also he says that the ecumenical task is essential to the church’s mission and the gospel not an additional or optional matter. Theology that does not take into account ecumenism is not sound catholic theology.
January 21, 2016
This encyclical presents an overview of the history of the ecumenical movement since the Second Vatican Council and argues for involvement by all Christians in the vital work of restoring the unity of Christ’s Church. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews