Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

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Students of the Studienjahr during a lesson at Beit Josef, the headquarters of the program, within the compound of the Benedictine Abbey of the Dormition in Jerusalem. The Studienjahr program (launched in 1973) is an annual program of ecumenical studies. It brings together every year about 20 German-speaking theology students from all Christians denominations. January 2024.

Abbey in the Holy Land brings Christian students from different denominations together

Jan 26, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

For 50 years, the Benedictine Dormition Abbey, which stands on Mount Zion, has hosted German-speaking students for an ecumenical theology... Read more

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby meets with Pope Francis on Jan. 25, 2024, at the Vatican.

Archbishop of Canterbury celebrates Anglican liturgy in a Catholic basilica in Rome

Jan 26, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby celebrated an Anglican service this morning in the Catholic Basilica of St. Bartholomew, located on Tiber... Read more

At Beirut 2024, patriarchs, bishops, and priests gathered for an ecumenical musical event the weekend of Jan. 20-21, 2024.

Ecumenical musical event in Beirut kicks off Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Jan 22, 2024

By ACI MENA

In the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Christian leaders gathered with a 400-person ecumenical choir to lift their voices in prayer. 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

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address in St. Peter's Square on Jan. 15, 2023.

Pope Francis announces ecumenical prayer service, reflects on St. John the Baptist’s ‘spirit of service’

Jan 15, 2023

By Courtney Mares

An ecumenical prayer vigil will take place in St. Peter’s Square as part of the Church’s ongoing Synod on Synodality. Read more

Pope Francis presides at the celebration of Second Vespers of the Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul at Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls, Jan. 25, 2021.

Pope Francis: ‘The Lord wants us to trust one another’

Jan 25, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope was preaching at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch and Cardinal Mario Grech.

Vatican asks bishops to invite local Protestant and Orthodox leaders to participate in synodal path

Jan 18, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The letter was sent by Cardinal Kurt Koch and Cardinal Mario Grech. 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 delivers his Angelus address on Dec. 19, 2021.

Pope Francis asks Catholics to offer their sufferings for Christian unity

Jan 16, 2022

By Courtney Mares

During his Sunday Angelus address, the pope called on people to take part in the upcoming Week of Prayer for... Read more

Ecumenical Vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Jan. 25, 2021. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/ Vatican Pool.

Pope Francis: May the Holy Trinity make Christians grow in unity

Jan 25, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity concluded Monday with Vespers at the tomb of St. Paul.  Read more

Pope Francis presides over ecumenical vespers in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls Jan. 25, 2020.

Pope Francis prays at St. Paul’s tomb with Orthodox and Anglican Christians

Jan 25, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis prayed at the tomb of St. Paul with Orthodox and Anglican leaders Saturday to conclude the Week of... Read more

Pope Francis on Jan. 31, 2018.

Pope Francis: Christians can unite in welcoming migrants, each other

Jan 22, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Welcoming other Christians and showing hospitality to strangers, especially migrants, is an opportunity for unity and for sharing Christ’s love,... Read more

Pope Francis at an ecumenical Vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, with Orthodox Metropolitan Gennadios and David Moxon, an Anglican bishop, Jan. 25, 2016.

Christians are united by mission and conversion, Pope Francis reflects

Jan 25, 2016

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis on Monday marked the conclusion of the Week for Christian Unity, saying all Christians are united by the... 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

Pope Francis prays Vespers to close the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Jan. 25, 2014.

Pope: We must persevere in working for Christian Unity

Jan 25, 2014

Pope Francis celebrated evening prayer at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity tonight, stressing the nature... Read more

The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Pope Francis will be at Roman basilica for end of Church unity week

Jan 25, 2014

Pope Francis’ celebration of an ecumenical vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls Jan. 25, ending the... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during the Wednesday general audience on Jan. 8, 2014

Pope: receive God's gifts with a generous heart

Jan 22, 2014

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis dedicated his general audience today to the topic of Christian unity, emphasizing that although divisions can be painful,... Read more

Jerusalem.

Holy Land Christians prepare for Church unity week

Jan 21, 2014

Christians of varying Churches and ecclesial communities in Palestine and Israel will gather for ecumenical prayer services at the churches... Read more