Of course, we can all appreciate the historic differences between Anglicans and Roman Catholics– historic differences which have been very painful at times both in terms of the doctrinal differences over which we have fought, and the pain we have caused each other. But in these times when the very nature of objective truth is being abandoned wholesale by intellectual and governing elites throughout our societies, I find increasingly common ground with my brothers and sisters in Christ in the Roman Catholic Church who hold fast that objective truth as well as the profound and unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of all humankind. It was enormously encouraging to me to hear a Roman Catholic “Supreme Court” judge say in one of our informal conversations that “all I need to know about God I find in Jesus Christ. Where else would I look?” Amen!

I would like to believe– and in fact I am praying– that in discussions over canon law Roman Catholics and Confessing Anglicans both here in North America and throughout the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans will find common ground and common convictions that will honor Christ’s great prayer in John 17 that we all might be one. I’m not sure what that will look like yet, but I’m energized by the process of working on this ecumenically “from the ground up.” It’s the same work the American Anglican Council helped facilitate in launching the new ecumenical movement among historic mainline Protestant denomination several years ago in Dallas– the Common Ground Christian Network.

I’m hopeful that we Anglicans might be able to partner in Gospel mission increasingly– with both fellow Protestants and Roman Catholics– on the basis of a common understanding of Christian essentials, an unwavering faith in Jesus Christ as The Lord and Savior of all, and a commitment to both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.

I found both those commitments evident today in the words and deeds of Pope Francis I in his weekly Papal audience at St. Peter’s Square. It was a great honor and privilege to be able to sit on the very steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, and to hear the Pope share what he called “the last in the series I have been preaching on the sacraments– today, the sacrament of marriage.”

He taught from Ephesians 5– which was read in multiple languages by Cardinals from all over the world. The Pope described marriage simply and unequivocally as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. Period. he described it as a great challenge, too– a way of living out a commitment to become more like Jesus Christ himself in the character both husband and wife must assume toward each other.

He delighted the crowd by giving three simple words to help them develop Christ-likeness in their marriages: “May I?” “Thank you” and “Excuse me”. A good preacher, he had all 40,000 people in the crowd repeat those words too!

But what I found equally extraordinary is how he left the stage after the Lord’s Prayer and walked down the steps right into the crowd. But not just to shake hands and be the star. On the left, at the very front of the crowd, he invited those who were extremely sick, especially in wheelchairs, to come forward. And when they did, he put his hands on them and prayed for them one-by-one for healing.

It would be easy to dismiss the enthusiasm of the crowd and the genuine love they expressed for “Papa Francesco” as a kind of cult adoration. I believe it’s much more than that. I believe it is the cry of thanks from the hearts of people who are desperately looking for someone to model what it means to lead and to love as Jesus did. I saw that today.

Canon Phil Ashey is CEO of the American Anglican Council.