A delegation from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican last week to affirm their shared interest in addressing global poverty.

"As Catholics and Lutherans, we have a renewed commitment to unity in Christ. We recognize that there is urgency in our joining Catholics to respond to the great needs of poverty and human care," ELCA Presiding Bishop the Rev. Mark S. Hanson told Benedict in his greeting. "Being stewards of creation and working toward peace throughout the world are commitments that Christians are able to share in daily life and in our ministries of care."

Hanson also noted Benedict's "call for peace throughout the world," saying that his church is mindful of the suffering in places like Syria, Africa, and the Middle East and is open to interfaith cooperation.

"As Lutherans, we share this call and commitment with you and the leaders of the Abrahamic faiths," he said. "This time calls for Jews, Christians and Muslims to deepen our understanding of one another and our resolve to work together to build a world of peace with justice."

Along with Benedict, the ELCA delegation met with several other Catholic officials during their Feb. 14-16 visit, including Cardinal Kurt Koch, the church's chief ecumenical officer. Hanson, whose group has been in dialogue with the Catholic Church since the 1960's, called the meetings, "signs of a mature ecumenical relationship."

Meanwhile, the ELCA has also been developing its relationship with the Catholic Church at home. The group and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently completed its eleventh round of dialogue, and produced a common theological statement entitled, "The Hope of Eternal Life."

The statement offers new insights into some issues that proved contentious in the debates of the 16th century, such as the communion of saints, prayers for or about the dead, the meaning of death, purgation, the promise of the resurrection and more.

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with approximately 4.2 million members in 10,000 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. The group is also the only U.S. Lutheran Church that is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, which represents over 70 million Lutherans worldwide.