Ecumenism

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Young people lead a procession in Protomartyrs Square at the Vatican for an ecumenical prayer service on Oct. 11, 2024.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis, synod pray where first Christian martyrs of Rome were killed

Oct 11, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The ecumenical prayer vigil Oct. 11 was held in Roman Protomartyrs Square inside Vatican City. Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch speaks to journalists at the Synod on Synodality press briefing held at the Vatican’s Holy See Press Office on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

Non-Catholic delegates put Christian unity in focus at Synod on Synodality

Oct 10, 2024

By Kristina Millare

According to Cardinal Kurt Koch, the imperative for all Christian churches to journey, pray, and cooperate is Jesus’ own priestly... Read more

Monsignor Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the French Bishops Conference, presides over the Mass that took place on Sept. 14, 2024, at Maison Abraham (Abraham House) in Jerusalem during the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of its foundation as a pilgrim guest house run by Secours Catholique-Caritas France.

New pilgrimage brings Christians, Muslims, and Jews together in Holy Land at Abraham House

Sep 19, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

On Sept. 14 in Jerusalem, a new pilgrimage called “Pilgrims of Hope Way” was inaugurated at the 60th anniversary celebration... Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, during an interview with EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser on Jan. 18, 2024.

Cardinal Koch shares considerations for next conclave, pope, ecumenism

Aug 2, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Cardinal Kurt Koch said in a recent interview that a conclave “is not a political thing, but a prayer” and... Read more

After traveling to Istanbul on July 25, 1967, for a celebration at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the pope visited the Orthodox patriarchal Church of St. George with the ecumenical patriarch, Athenagoras I, Orthodox archbishop of Constantinople, three years after exchanging a kiss of peace together during a pilgrimage and peace tour of the Holy Land.

Remembering Pope Paul VI’s historic visit to Turkey

Jul 25, 2024

By Nathalie Ritzmann

On July 25, 1967, Pope Paul VI set foot on Turkish soil — the first papal visit to Istanbul since... Read more

In exchange for the transfer of the 74-acre Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) Green Campus — formerly St. Gregory’s University — to St. Gregory’s Abbey, OBU will receive two parcels of land for future development totaling 134 acres in Shawnee, just east of Oklahoma City. The abbey and the university announced the news on June 7, 2024. 

Catholic abbey and Baptist university exchange land ‘to build up the kingdom’

Jun 21, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

In exchange for the transfer of the 74-acre Oklahoma Baptist University Green Campus to St. Gregory’s Abbey, OBU will receive... Read more

Pope Francis meets with a delegation from the Lutheran World Federation on June 20, 2024, in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican.

Pope Francis to Lutherans: ‘Jesus Christ is the heart of ecumenism’

Jun 20, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

In his talk given during the audience in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican, the Holy Father called this encounter... Read more

Aram I, the top leader of the Armenian Church of Cilicia, meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican on June 12, 2024.

Armenian Church leader, Pope Francis meet at Vatican

Jun 12, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

For the first time in 10 years, Pope Francis met Wednesday with His Holiness Aram I, the leader of the... Read more

Father Nikodemus Schnabel, abbot of the Benedictine Basilica of the Dormition in Jerusalem, speaks during an ecumenical prayer service that took place at the Cenacle on Jan. 25, 2024.

Attack on priest in Jerusalem brings intolerance of Christians back into focus

Feb 8, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

Harassment of Christians in the Holy Land is not new. “Education is key,” says an expert on Jewish-Christian relations. Read more

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

Pope Francis leads an ecumenical second vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Jan. 25, 2024.

Christian unity must be rooted in prayer, pope says at ecumenical vespers

Jan 25, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Marking the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis hosted an ecumenical vespers at Rome’s Basilica... Read more

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

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 Francis receives an ecumenical delegation from Finland on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, on the second day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Finland: a laboratory of ecumenism and Christian unity 

Jan 22, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Finland is a traditionally Lutheran country, but in many ways it retains unique links with the Catholic tradition that has... Read more

The Sept. 30, 2023, prayer service, called “Together,” which was organized by the ecumenical community Taizé, included eight minutes of silence for personal prayer.

Pope Francis calls silence ‘essential’ at prayer vigil for Synod on Synodality

Sep 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Before thousands of young people and Christian leaders from around the world, Francis emphasized the importance of silent prayer. Read more

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Diocese of Rome: Thousands expected at Vatican for ecumenical prayer vigil ahead of synod

Sep 25, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The prayer service will take place just days before the launch of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of... Read more

In a speech during a meeting with Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, and other Coptic Orthodox representatives on May 11, 2023, Pope Francis announced that the Coptic Orthodox martyrs killed by ISIS in 2015 will be added to the Catholic Church’s official list of saints.

Pope Francis’ emphasis on synodality cited in joint Catholic-Orthodox statement

Jun 14, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The first joint statement in seven years mentioned the pope’s hope for a synodal Church could eventually bring the Churches... Read more

Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II holds the Christmas Eve Mass at the Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Egypt's administrative capital, on Jan. 6, 2023, in Cairo, Egypt.

Coptic Patriarch to offer Orthodox Divine Liturgy in St. John Lateran Basilica

Apr 21, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The May 14 liturgy will take place in the context of an official visit of Coptic Pope Tawadros II of... Read more

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; Pope Francis; and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields, lead a prayer service for Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian christians in Juba, Sudan.

Pope Francis at ecumenical prayer service in Sudan: Those who choose Christ choose peace

Feb 4, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

About 50,000 people attended the ecumenical prayer service. Read more

Fr. Timothy Radcliffe addressing the bishops of the Catholic Church in England and Wales

Controversial Dominican priest to lead October retreat for bishops at start of synod

Jan 23, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Father Timothy Radcliffe, whose statements on homosexuality have previously sparked controversy, will lead a three-day retreat to kick off the... Read more