Pope Francis held an unprecedented event for a Roman Catholic pontiff, joining in on the first day of a yearlong celebration that culminates in 2017 with the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
The Pope traveled to Sweden to meet with the president of the Lutheran World Federation, Bishop Munib Younan.
The two leaders signed a joint statement pledging to improve relations between Catholics and Lutherans.
Their joint declaration pledges to put the errors of the past behind them and pursue theological talks with the goal of letting Lutherans and Catholics share in the Eucharist.
This is the first time a pope has commemorated Martin Luther's revolt with such a symbolically powerful gesture.
Francis even praised Luther for having "given greater centrality" to scripture in the church's life.
The Protestant Reformation started in 1517 after Luther nailed 95 theses on the church door in the town of Wittenberg, Germany, denouncing the abuses of the Catholic Church, especially the sale of indulgences.
The Vatican and the Lutheran church both insisted the event was no celebration but rather a solemn commemoration to ask forgiveness for the division and give thanks that relations have improved.
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