Ecumenism

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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

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 greets His Beatitude Ieronymos II in Athens, Greece on Dec. 5, 2021.

Pope Francis gives Greek Orthodox archbishop fragments of Parthenon sculptures from Vatican Museums

Dec 16, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican announced Dec. 16 that the pope wants to gift the artifacts “as a concrete sign of a sincere... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Vatican, Oct. 4, 2021.

Pope Francis: Restoration of Christian unity is ‘an urgent priority in today’s world’

Nov 30, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the full restoration of communion among all Christians is “an urgent priority in today’s world.” Read more

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I

Why Catholics and Orthodox might once again celebrate Easter on the same date

Nov 18, 2022

By AC Wimmer

The spiritual leader of the world’s Eastern Orthodox Christians has come out in support of finding a common date to... Read more

Pope Francis meeting with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and representatives of the Russian-Orthodox Church in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, Sept. 14 2022

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill meeting still possible at future date, Russian Orthodox metropolitan says

Sep 14, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis met Wednesday with the head of the Russian Orthodox delegation in Kazakhstan, who said a papal meeting with... Read more

Pope Francis and the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at the Vatican on Oct. 5, 2021.

Anglicans recognize Pope as ‘father of the Church in the West,’ says archbishop of Canterbury

Aug 5, 2022

By Charlotte Evans

In ecumenical discussions at the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England, Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, has said that most Anglicans... Read more

Pope Francis meets with a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Vatican's Santa Marta guesthouse, June 30, 2022.

Pope Francis: Catholic-Eastern Orthodox dialogue can promote world peace

Jun 30, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Unity among Christians is a necessary step to building a world of fraternity, Pope Francis said on Thursday. Read more

Pope Francis at a Mass for the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul in St. Peter's Basilica, June 29, 2022.

Pope Francis on the feast of Peter and Paul: Care for the vulnerable

Jun 29, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis called Wednesday for Catholics not to retreat into their own groups, but to open the church doors and... Read more