Ecumenism

The Latest

The Church of the Savior on Blood in Saint Petersburg.

Why Cardinal Parolin's trip to Russia matters

Aug 3, 2017

By Elise Harris

The Vatican Secretary of State's visit to Russia later this month comes at a crucial juncture for the country, and... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Vatican City on June 27, 2017.

Unity is more than 'bland uniformity,' Pope tells Orthodox

Jun 27, 2017

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis met with a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, saying their journey toward full communion is one... Read more

A Russian icon of St. Nicholas, c. 1500.

Can relics unite Catholics and Orthodox? Pope Francis thinks so.

Jun 21, 2017

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Common veneration of relics is one of the tools Pope Francis is using to foster ecumenical relations with the Eastern... Read more

Pope Francis with Tawadros II, Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, in Cairo, Egypt, April 28, 2017.

Our martyrs' blood unites us, Francis tells Coptic Orthodox patriarch

Apr 28, 2017

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis closed his first day in Egypt with a visit to Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II, telling him their... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Patriarch Kirill in Havana, Cuba on Feb. 12, 2016.

The Pope and the Russian Orthodox Patriarch met a year ago. Here's what's next.

Feb 12, 2017

By Andrea Gagliarducci

One year ago marked a historic first meeting between a Pope and a Russian Orthodox Patriarch.  Read more

UK evangelicals affirm centrality of Reformation in their communities

Feb 1, 2017

An umbrella grouping of evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom has issued a statement marking the 500th anniversary of the... Read more

Pope Francis at the ecumenical celebration of Vespers at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Jan. 25, 2017.

Pope: Christian unity can't happen if we linger on problems of the past

Jan 25, 2017

By Elise Harris

During an ecumenical Vespers service on Wednesday, Pope Francis told both Catholics and members of other Christian communities that unity... Read more

Pope Francis embraces Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan, President of the Lutheran World Federation-during a joint prayer service at the cathedral in Lund Oct. 31, 2016.

Conversion is a prerequisite to ecumenism, Pope Francis says

Jan 19, 2017

By Elise Harris

For Pope Francis, personal conversion is pretty much the key to the Church’s success in all of her activities, from... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, Sept. 7, 2016.

Is unity the most important thing to Pope Francis?

Jan 9, 2017

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis has decided to begin 2017 in much the same way as he did last year: praying for Christian... Read more

Detail from Rembrandt's The Three Crosses (1653).

Vatican displays Rembrandt's art for the first time

Dec 6, 2016

For the first time, the works of Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn will be displayed at the Vatican.  Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square before his general audience on April 16, 2014.

In new interview, Pope reflects on close of Jubilee

Nov 18, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a lengthy new interview, Pope Francis opened up about his thoughts on the Jubilee of Mercy as well as... 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 aboard the papal plane during his Oct. 31-Nov. 1 trip to Sweden.

Full text: Pope Francis' in-flight presser from Sweden

Nov 1, 2016

During his flight from Sweden to Rome on Tuesday, Pope Francis gave a press conference to the journalists assembled aboard... Read more

Pope Francis at the Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter's Square on June 24, 2015.

The saints stand out – because they're happy, Pope Francis says

Nov 1, 2016

By Elise Harris

The saints of the Church have many different qualities, but one thing that unites them all is a sense of... Read more

Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew I in Greece, April 16, 2016.

Francis, Benedict praise Bartholomew I as a brother in faith

Oct 17, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

In their forewords to a new book about the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Francis... Read more

Pope Francis addresses a group of Lutheran pilgrims in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, Oct. 13, 2016.

All Christians must follow Jesus closely, Pope Francis tells Lutherans

Oct 13, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Thursday, asked about what he likes and doesn’t like in the Lutheran ecclesial community, Pope Francis said he likes... Read more

Georgian Orthodox protestors line the streets of Tbilisi on Pope Francis' arrival to Georgia, Sept. 30, 2016.

In Georgia visit, Pope finds a country of Christian tensions

Sep 30, 2016

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis on his visit to Georgia will find a country where dialogue among Christians is particularly difficult, with cool... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Ilia II, the Georgian Orthodox Catholicos and Patriarch of All Georgia, in Tbilisi, Sept. 30, 2016.

Pope Francis to Georgian Orthodox: Christ's love unites us

Sep 30, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

God's love and our unity in Christ are what enable us to overcome conflict and disagreement, and to spread the... Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

'We have faced the mercy of God' – An interview with Cardinal Koch

Sep 27, 2016

By Paul Badde

Hundreds of years before Martin Luther broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope in the western world,... Read more

Pope Francis.

Coming soon: a meeting between Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury

Aug 24, 2016

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, the Primate of the Anglican Communion, will meet in Rome Oct. 5... Read more