Pope Benedict has said that relations between Christian denominations are at a critical crossroads.
His comments are being interpreted as signalling concern about tensions in world Anglicanism, whose dialogue with the Vatican has been further overshadowed by this month's decision to ordain women bishops in Britain.
The pontiff made the remarks as he opened his second day of public engagements for World Youth Day in Australia, where he was meeting leaders of many of Australia's other Christian churches including Anglicans.
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While Pope Benedict did not elaborate on his comment that ecumenical relations had reached a critical juncture, it coincides with the crisis gripping the leadership of the worldwide Anglican community, who are meeting in London.
A quarter of its bishops, representing most of the world's 77m members, have boycotted the gathering over the ordination of an openly gay Bishop, Gene Robinson, in the US.
The pope has already publicly expressed his concern over the future of the Anglican Church, telling reporters on board his plane earlier this week that he hoped it could avoid a schism.
Separately, the pontiff met leaders of other faiths and stressed that religion was a ‘fundamental right’ of all people, transcending borders, a remark which is being interpreted as reflecting the Vatican's cautious efforts to encourage China's communist government to relax its control of the church there.
He told the gathering that in a world threatened by sinister and indiscriminate forms of violence, the unified voice of religious people urged nations and communities to resolve conflicts through peaceful means and with full regard for human dignity.
One of the many ways religion stands at the service of mankind, he added, is by offering a vision of the human person that highlights our innate aspiration to live generously, forging bonds of friendship with our neighbours.
Jewish Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence said such gatherings could teach that faith is alive and wearing many robes.
