Pope Benedict XVI met privately with more than 20 Baptist leaders, including at least one representative from the U.S. on Thursday, according to Catholic News Service.
The meeting was cosponsored by the Baptist World Alliance and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Benedict said he hopes a dialogue between the two “will bear abundant fruit,” and an “increase of understanding a cooperation.”
The pontiff did not shy away from noting the differences between Catholics and Baptists, however, saying that “historically controverted issues,” such as “the relationship between Scripture and tradition, the understanding of baptism and the sacraments, the place of Mary in the communion of the church, and the nature of oversight and primacy in the church’s ministerial structure,” needs further discussion.
Perhaps the most interesting comment came from Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Christian unity council, who said “In the past, who would have thought that (Baptist representatives) would have willingly come to talk together with us?”
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