Christian Unity

The Latest

Father Rafiq Khoury at the beginning of the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity shows the first three volumes of the "ecumenical catechism" that was adopted in 2000 by public schools of the Palestinian Authority as a textbook for Christian education.

‘Ecumenical catechism’ for public schools in Holy Land a sign of Christian unity

Jan 24, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

As the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began, Father Rafiq Khoury shared the story of the Christian textbook being... Read more

Pope Paul VI meets Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras I at his residence of the apostolic delegation on Jan. 5, 1964. The meeting between the two church leaders ended a 900-year standoff between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity commemorates historic meeting of two lungs of the Church

Jan 18, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The theme for 2024 is “You shall love the Lord your God ... and your neighbor as yourself.” Read more

St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

Pope Francis to sign human fraternity document with Nobel laureates in St. Peter’s Square

Jun 5, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Several former heads of state and internationally known performers will join 29 Nobel laureates on June 10 for an event... Read more

Pope Francis meets with ecumenical delegation from Finland on Jan. 17, 2022.

Pope Francis looks ahead to the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in 2025

Jan 17, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis highlighted the upcoming anniversaries of two major events in Church history as moments that can help Christians seek... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to His Beatitude Ieronymos II and other Greek Orthodox leaders in Athens Dec. 4.

Pope Francis apologizes for mistakes of Catholics in meeting with Greek Orthodox leaders in Athens, Greece

Dec 4, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Greek Orthodox cleric called Pope Francis a heretic as he entered the meeting in Athens. Read more

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest on Sept. 11, 2021.

Cardinal Erdö: Our world today is in burning need of a united Christianity

Sep 11, 2021

By Courtney Mares

"This unity is the will of Christ Himself, who prayed that His disciples may be one, that the world may... Read more

Pope Francis with Orthodox Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon on June 28, 2021.

Pope Francis: ‘The witness of growing communion between us Christians will be a sign of hope’

Jun 28, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis told a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople that the witness of growing communion between Christians would... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the Sunday Angelus on May 30, 2021.

Pope Francis: The Holy Trinity invites us to grow in unity as Christians

May 30, 2021

By Courtney Mares

On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Pope Francis said unity is essential to Christian life because God is... Read more

Pope Francis delivers his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Jan. 20, 2021. Credit: Pablo Esparza/CNA.

Pope Francis: Ask God for unity to ‘overcome scandal of division’ among Christians

Jan 20, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis urged Christians to pray for “the gift of unity” on Wednesday, saying that the devil always seeks to... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience March 14, 2018.

Pope Francis remembers 25 years of 'Ut unum sint,' John Paul II's letter on ecumenism

May 25, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Monday remembered Ut unum sint, St. Pope John Paul II’s encyclical on ecumenism, on the 25th anniversary of... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis to Christians: Our common Baptism unites us

Jan 25, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

At an ecumenical Vespers service Thursday, Pope Francis told members of several Christian communities that the grace of Baptism creates... Read more

Jubilee audience in St. Peter's Square with Pope Francis on Nov. 12, 2016.

Pope dedicates July to praying for those distant from the faith

Jul 5, 2017

By Elise Harris

In his prayer video for the month of July, Pope Francis has asked Christians to join him in praying for... Read more

Pope Francis 1 at The Liturgy of the Lord's Passion at St. Peter's Basilica on April 3, 2015.

Modern martyrs exemplify true Christian unity, Pope says

Jan 27, 2017

By Elise Harris

In a speech to Catholic and Oriental Orthodox leaders, Pope Francis pointed, as he often does, to the example of... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 5, 2016.

Unity is not the same as uniformity, Pope Francis says

Nov 10, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Thursday, Pope Francis spoke about Christian unity and ecumenism, specifically what they are not. Namely, they aren’t about uniformity... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during an ecumenical gathering at Malmo Arena in Lund, Sweden, Oct. 31, 2016.

Make unity a priority, Pope Francis says at Reformation anniversary

Oct 31, 2016

By Elise Harris

While in Sweden to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Pope Francis heard moving testimonies from both Lutherans and... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to pilgrims in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall during his general audience on Jan. 20, 2016.

Pope Francis: for Christians, baptism is stronger than differences

Jan 20, 2016

By Elise Harris

In his general audience during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis focused on the common baptism Christians... Read more

Interfaith leaders hold objects expressing their beliefs in Pope Francis' video message on prayer for interreligious dialogue.

In first prayer video, Pope stresses interfaith unity: 'We are all children of God'

Jan 7, 2016

By Elise Harris

The Pope’s first-ever video message on his monthly prayer intentions was released Tuesday, highlighting the importance of interreligious dialogue and... Read more

Pope Francis during the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion at St. Peter's Basilica on April 3, 2015.

For Pope Francis, unity of martyrdom is stronger than Christian divisions

Nov 5, 2015

By Elise Harris

Despite the numerous divisions among Christians today, the followers of Christ are powerfully united in the witness of martyrdom across... Read more

Pope Francis prays on Easter Sunday morning in St. Peter's Square on April 5, 2015.

Will Pope Francis change the date of Easter?

Jun 19, 2015

Speaking to a global gathering of priests, Pope Francis signaled an openness to changing the date of Easter in the... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to religious communities at the Training Center 'School of Love' in Kkottongnaeon, South Korea, Aug. 16, 2014.

Christian unity demands encounter – not theory, says Pope

Jan 25, 2015

By Ann Schneible

More than “theoretical discussions,” what unites Christians is encounter, and a willingness to “challenge one another,” said Pope Francis as... Read more