; Whereas Pope John XXIII established the Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity in 1961; Whereas Pope John XXIII met often with Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox religious leaders and invited them to send observers to the Second Vatican Council; Whereas the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism claims that division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature ; Whereas, in 1999, the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation signed a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification partially resolving a major conflict at the root of the Protestant Reformation; Whereas Pope John Paul II promoted Christian unity with Lutherans by becoming the first pope to ever visit a Lutheran church and to visit countries with Lutheran majorities; Whereas Pope Francis praised Martin Luther as a great reformer; Whereas Pope Francis continues to promote Christian unity and in recognizing the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, has said, As Catholics and Lutherans, we have undertaken a common journey of reconciliation. Now, in the context of the commemoration of the Reformation of 1517, we have a new opportunity to accept a common path ; Whereas the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church are more united now than they have been in the past 500 years; Whereas the effects of the Protestant Reformation on Western history, culture, and society were profound; Whereas the Protestant Reformation led to major shifts in education and literacy in 16th century Europe; Whereas Martin Luther emphasized the significance of individuals reading the Bible, which was made possible by the invention of the printing press; Whereas Martin Luther believed that education should be available to all, not just to the elite class that could afford it or those who got an opportunity for education by entering a religious order