May the Church One Day Be United

By James Katende – The longing for unity is not new—it echoes from the heart of Christ Himself, who prayed, “that they may all be one.”

The Catholic Church has carried that call through centuries, even amid division, disagreement, and doctrinal separation. The question is not whether unity is desirable, but whether it is possible in a world of such fractured faith and splintered doctrine. And yet, beyond the brokenness, beyond the boundaries, a greater truth remains: the Spirit of God is always working toward reconciliation. What man divides, grace can restore. The Church, if it remains faithful, must not only desire unity—it must pursue it with courage and humility.

Unity will never mean uniformity, nor does it mean compromise in core doctrine.

But it does mean respect, dialogue, shared mission, and common ground where it can be found. It means that the Church must lead, not with pride, but with openness. It means recognising the work of the Holy Spirit beyond the visible walls of the Catholic Church. It means extending hands where once there were walls, listening where once there was silence, and working together for justice, peace, and the dignity of every person created in the image of God.

Already, there are signs. There are movements of ecumenical collaboration. There are shared prayers, shared causes, and shared tears. The Catholic Church stands not above, but among the people of God in the journey toward unity. Relationships with Orthodox Christians, with Protestant communities, and even with non-Christian faiths such as Judaism and Islam, are no longer defined by conflict alone—they are marked by dialogue, mutual witness, and hope. But unity will not be built by strategy. It will be born through conversion—conversion of hearts, of attitudes, of old suspicions.

The Church must ask: Are we willing to become bridges, even if it means being walked upon? Are we willing to be less defensive, more present, more Christlike?

The road will be long. There will be setbacks. There will be differences that cannot be ignored. But the goal is greater than agreement—it is communion. It is working together for the good of the world, for the glory of God, and for the truth of the Gospel. One day, the Catholic Church will walk more visibly with others, not only as teacher, but also as servant.

And when that day comes, it will not be a loss of identity—it will be the fulfilment of the Church’s deepest mission: to be a sign and instrument of the unity of all mankind with God and with each other.

The unity of the Church with other faith communities is not a distant dream—it is a divine calling. It will not erase differences, but it will elevate love. It will not silence convictions, but it will call for compassion. The Catholic Church does not lose its voice by listening. It does not abandon truth by walking alongside others. True unity will always rest on truth, but truth without love is hollow. The Church must remember that the same Spirit who hovered over the waters, who raised Christ from the dead, is still moving, still reconciling, still gathering the children of God from every nation, language, and tradition.

We must not be afraid to hope. We must not settle for division as destiny. The Church must remain firm in faith, but flexible in relationship. It must guard the Deposit of Faith, but share its treasures generously. The Pope himself must not only be a visible sign of unity among Catholics, but a prophetic voice for unity among all believers. For the world is weary of religion that divides and longs for witness that unites. Unity is not the work of one generation, but every generation must do its part. And if we walk together, with hearts open and eyes fixed on Christ, then yes—one day, the Catholic Church will stand arm in arm with others, not in the confusion of compromise, but in the strength of shared purpose.

That day will not mark the end of history—it will be the beginning of a new witness, a new fire, a new credibility for a Church that dares to love beyond its limits and believe beyond what the world says is possible.

A Prayer for Unity

O God of all peoples and nations, Lord of every tribe, tongue, and heart, we cry out to You with a desire born from Heaven itself: make us one. You are not the God of division but of communion. You are not the author of confusion but of peace. And so we come to You, humbled by our fractures, repentant for our pride, and longing for the unity You prayed for before the Cross. Father, let the Church of Your Son be a light in the darkness, not a scattered flame but a holy fire—one in spirit, one in mission, one in love.

 Break down every wall of suspicion, tear down every stronghold of arrogance, and melt away every resistance that keeps us apart. Remind us that we are not competing for truth—we are co-workers in the vineyard. Teach us to love across differences, to speak with honour, and to serve without condition. Let dialogue not be a strategy, but a sacrament. Let our shared witness heal wounds, lift burdens, and reveal Christ to a world that no longer knows His name.

 We pray for the Catholic Church, that it may lead with humility, teach with compassion, and listen with grace. We pray for our separated brothers and sisters, that the same Spirit who dwells in them will draw us into deeper unity. We pray for those of other faiths, that respect may grow and hatred may die. We pray for leaders, for theologians, for pastors, and for prophets—raise them up to speak not only what is right, but what is reconciling.

 O God, make us one. One in purpose. One in truth. One in Christ. Let the world see and believe. Let division cease and the chorus of faith rise like incense. Let the Body of Christ breathe as one again. Until that day, keep us faithful, hopeful, and open to Your Spirit.  Amen.