Pope marks Reformation Day

Pope Francis traveled to Sweden today to mark the start of a yearlong celebration leading up to next year’s 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Francis and leaders of the Lutheran World Federation held an ecumenical prayer service in the Lund cathedral, a joint event that raised eyebrows among both Protestant and Catholic leaders. But organizers billed the event as an attempt to seek forgiveness for the centuries-old schism and rejoice that relations have improved in the last five decades. Martin Luther penned his “95 Theses” on Oct. 31, 1517. The letter to the archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg protested the sale of indulgences and called for corrupt church leaders to repent. Francis praised Luther for restoring the centrality of Scripture to the church: “The spiritual experience of Martin Luther challenges us to remember that apart from God, we can do nothing.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.