Pioneer of ecumenical dialogue, martyr for unity. Sacrificed his life in the pursuit of ecclesiastical reconciliation

Today we remember that Jesus, in his priestly prayer, prayed for the unity of his followers. Who could have imagined that, despite the Lord's pleas, the desired unity would be so arduous and expensive? It cost St. Josaphat’s life! (It is protomartyr of the re-unification of Christianity). —Saint Josaphat “began to devote himself to the restoration of unity, with such force and, at the same time, with such softness and such fruit, that his own adversaries called him ‘thief of souls’” (Pius XI).