Even if a unity of faith is not possible, a unity of love is.

The line contrasts doctrinal agreement (“unity of faith”) with the more immediately practicable bond of charity (“unity of love”). In an ecumenical setting, it suggests that Christians divided by confessional differences may not be able to reach full theological consensus quickly—or at all in a given moment—yet they can still live a real, demanding unity through mutual love, cooperation, and holiness. The claim also implies a hierarchy: love is not a mere substitute for truth, but a Christian imperative that can precede and prepare deeper unity. It frames love as an active, communal practice that resists sectarian hostility and keeps dialogue oriented toward communion rather than victory.