“We are convinced that in a world that would like us to be divided, we Christians can be a sign of unity and artisans of peace, despite our diversity. May the Holy Father encourage us in this commitment”. Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), said this as he introduced the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, led by Metropolitan Hilarion, to Pope Francis this morning. “In these days – the Cardinal said -, we have paused to reflect on the theme of pilgrimage, particularly from the point of view of its religious and cultural value. Thank you, Your Holiness, for your willingness to meet us. We wish to reiterate before You our desire to continue with these meetings as His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow had urged us to do with such goodwill last year, to enrich our mutual understanding”. At the end of the audience, the Cardinal told SIR news agency: “The Holy Father insisted on walking together and also that there is no competition between us. Whoever does a good job shall continue to do so, for we do good to the praise of God”. “The world is divided and summons us, Christians”, the Cardinal added: “It is like a desert thirsting for water: to be able to bring this water in the Spirit of love, unity between us and harmony is the greatest testimony that we can give as well as the greatest response that Christians can give to Jesus’ prayer ‘ut unum sint’. The Cardinal then recalled “the ecumenism of blood. When you are killed in hatred of Christ and the Christian faith – he said – you are not asked whether you are Catholic or Protestant, Lutheran, Orthodox or Coptic. You belong to Christ”.