Visit to DPCU of young priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox Churches

On Monday 20 February the participants in the Study visit for young priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox Churches were received by Cardinal Kurt Koch at the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU).

Upon the invitation of the DPCU, from 18 to 25 February eighteen monks and priests nominated by the heads of their respective Churches (Coptic Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church [See of Etchmiadzin and See of Cilicia], Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Eritrean Orthodox Church, and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church), coming from Egypt, Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, India, Ethiopia and Eritrea, participate in the initiative aimed at deepening their understanding of the Catholic Church.

During their stay in Rome, the group has the opportunity to visit the holy sites of Rome, Dicasteries, Universities and Colleges, communities and monasteries, and above all to meet with the Christians living in the city, students, seminarians, priests and monks.

The Oriental Orthodox priests and monks are visiting various Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, in particular the Secretariat of State, the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, the Dicastery for Eastern Churches, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Dicastery for Culture and Catholic Education, the Dicastery for Communication and the Secretariat of the Synod.

The delegation also visits various educational institutions, in particular the Pontifical Lateran University, the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Pontifical Oriental Institute, the Pontifical Ethiopian College, the Pontifical Armenian College and the Pontifical Maronite College.

On Thursday 23 February the group will be received in a private audience with the Holy Father.

This the third visit of young priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The first took place from 15‒22 February 2020 and the second one from 31 May to 6 June 2022.

http://www.christianunity.va/