Martin Luther: Vatican's 'Prodigal Son'

(Luther as an Augustinian Friar)

These days, exciting reversals are occurring in both science and religion.  Physicists have been learning to unboil eggs, and Vatican officials have been learning to welcome back Martin Luther.

Having been excommunicated by Pope Leo X nearly half a millennium ago, Luther does not seem to be a likely candidate for having a namesake “central Roman square.”  

Nevertheless, this supreme challenger of the Catholic Church’s authority is about to have “a park area that overlooks the Coliseum” officially named “Piazza Martin Lutero” in his honor.  Rosie Scammell of RNS reports that the Vatican has “given its backing” to this ecumenical endeavor.

After all, the original term “catholic” (from the Greek katholikos) meant “concerning the whole” (i.e., “universal”).

Resources

http://wwrn.org/articles/44925/?&place=europe

Copyright September 20, 2015 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved