Christian Unity Still Eludes Us, Says Pastor Rick Warren

Rick Warren Says Christian Unity Remains Jesus’ Unanswered Prayer

Evangelical pastor and Saddleback Church founder Rick Warren urges believers across denominations to embrace unity as the Church approaches a significant milestone: the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Speaking in Rome during a gathering of Global 2033, a Catholic-led evangelization initiative, Warren emphasized that Christian unity is “still the unanswered prayer of Jesus”, a reference to Christ’s heartfelt plea in John 17:21: “That they may all be one.”

In an interview with EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser, Warren addressed why he, a prominent Protestant leader, chose to speak at a Catholic event.

“No single denomination can fulfill the Great Commission alone,” Warren said. “Out of the 2.5 billion people who profess faith in Jesus worldwide, about 1.3 billion are Catholic. That’s nearly half of the global Church.”

He clarified that his intention is not to convert Catholics but to work together in proclaiming the Gospel: “We may never have complete agreement on doctrine, structure, or culture, but we can all agree on the mission: to go and share the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Warren also expressed openness to praying alongside Catholics, stating, “I pray with anyone who confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. These are my brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Looking ahead to the 2033 observance, Warren emphasized the importance of offering hope to a hurting world: “What the world needs now is hope, and unity among believers will help bring that hope.”

In a touching personal moment, the pastor shared how Catholic prayers ministered to him during the darkest season of his life, the 2013 loss of his son to suicide after a long battle with mental illness. “It was the worst day of my life,” he recalled. “But one thing that brought comfort was hearing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on EWTN. It became a balm for my heart and for my wife.”

As the global Church moves toward a historic commemoration in 2033, Warren’s message is clear: it’s time for believers to come together, not in uniformity, but in love, mission, and shared devotion to Christ.