O pluralismo eclesial: da contradição à afirmação do Evangelho

The article aims to analyze the ecclesial pluralism in the Christian world, the tensions and conflicts that exist there, but also the possibilities of meeting in the witnessing of the Gospel. By the qualitative analysis method of the available bibliography identifies, on the one hand, socio-cultural and theological factors of pluralism that are expressions of contradiction in the understanding and experience of the Christian faith. On the other hand, it points to elements that may favor to overrun of divisions. For this it is necessary a resizing of the theological reading of the pluralism of churches seeking to verify the possibilities for a recognition of the legitimate motivations of faith, assume the demands of the dialogue and strengthen the availability to review the presuppositions of the separation of Christians. As a result, it is understood that ecclesial pluralism does not directly imply only the division of the church, but can also express distinct possibilities of faithfulness to the Gospel. Thus, the overcoming of the Christian division is not due to the cancellation of a healthy ecclesial pluralism, but by the interaction between different ecclesial traditions in the testimony of the unity of faith in Christ, "for the world to believe" (Jo 17,21).