Editing Pope Paul VI (section)

====Protestants====
In 1965, Paul VI decided to create a joint working group with the [[World Council of Churches]] to map all possible avenues of dialogue and cooperation. Eight sessions were held in the following three years, resulting in many joint proposals.<ref>Schmidt 822–824</ref> It was proposed to work closely together in social justice and development and "Third World" issues such as hunger and poverty. On the religious side, it was agreed to be shared in the [[Week of Prayer for Christian Unity]], which would be held annually. The joint working group was to prepare texts which were to be used by all Christians.<ref>Schmidt 826</ref> On 19 July 1968, the meeting of the World Council of Churches took place in [[Uppsala]], Sweden, which Pope Paul called a sign of the times. He sent his blessing ecumenically: "May the Lord bless everything you do for the case of Christian Unity."<ref>Schmidt 827.</ref> The World Council of Churches decided on including Catholic theologians in its committees, provided they have the backing of the Vatican.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

The [[Lutheran]]s were the first Protestant church offering a dialogue to the Catholic Church in September 1964 in [[Reykjavík]], Iceland.<ref>Schmidt 830,</ref> It resulted in joint study groups of several issues. The dialogue with the [[Methodist Church]] began in October 1965, after its representatives officially applauded the past five years' remarkable changes, friendship, and cooperation. The [[Reformed Church]]es entered four years later into a dialogue with the Catholic Church.<ref>Schmidt 831</ref> The President of the [[Lutheran World Federation]] and member of the central committee of the World Council of Churches [[Fredrik A. Schiotz]] stated during the 450th anniversary of the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], that earlier commemorations were viewed almost as a triumph. He welcomed the announcement of Pope Paul VI to celebrate the 1900th anniversary of the death of the [[Apostle Peter]] and [[Apostle Paul]], and promised participation and co-operation in the festivities.<ref>Schmidt 833</ref>

Paul VI supported the new-found harmony and cooperation with Protestants on many levels. When Cardinal [[Augustin Bea]] went to see him for permission for a joint Catholic-Protestant translation of the Bible with Protestant Bible societies, the Pope walked towards him and exclaimed, "As far as the cooperation with [[Bible society|Bible societies]] is concerned, I am totally in favour."<ref>Schmidt 835</ref> He issued a formal approval on [[Pentecost]] 1967, the feast on which the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] descended on the Christians, overcoming all linguistic difficulties, according to Christian tradition.<ref>Schmidt 837</ref>