Ecumenical Movement

Vatican: Altarpiece installed in the Church of the Teutonic Cemetery

The work by German artist Michael Triegel, on display in the church near St Peter’s, depicts among its figures a homeless man who once posed for the artist and is now buried in the adjacent cemetery. The altarpiece, which will be on display for two years, is a sign of ecumenical dialogue.

Pope: New Charta Oecumenica bears witness to shared journey of European Churches

Pope Leo XIV meets with signatories to the new Charta Oecumenica, and invites European Bishops of various Christian Churches to listen to one another in order to preach the Gospel of Christ more effectively.

Pope: ‘Synodality presents itself as a promising path forward’

Pope Leo addresses the Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East and the Members of the Joint Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East. In his discourse, he praises the progress the two Churches have made on their path of dialogue.

King’s visit 'confirms closeness between Catholic and Anglican Churches'

Father Martin Browne, an official of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, speaks to Vatican News about some of the main elements of Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III&rsquos historic day, marked with meetings and ecumenical prayers.

King Charles receives Royal Confrater title as sign of 'hope' with Anglican Communion

The British monarch is accorded the title "Royal Confrater" at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, taking a seat on a stall bearing the Gospel inscription, &ldquoThat they may be one&rdquo. This wish is echoed by Cardinal Harvey, who, together with Abbot Ogliari, accompanies the Royals through the Holy Door before the ecumenical celebration.

King Charles attends ecumenical prayer service in Sistine Chapel

King Charles III and Queen Camilla join Pope Leo XIV in the Sistine Chapel for Midday Prayer as part of their official state visit to the Vatican &ndash marking a historic moment in Anglican-Catholic relations.

Metropolitan Emmanuel welcomes Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to Türkiye

After the announcement of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Türkiye for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon explains the importance of the ecumenical ties between the Popes and the Patriarchs of Constantinople.

Cardinal Koch congratulates Archbishop-designate of Canterbury Sarah Mullally

The Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity congratulates the Rt. Revd. and Rt. Hon. Dame Sarah Mullally on her appointment as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

Mozambique: Laudato Si’ initiative inspires ecumenical gathering for peace and the environment

The Ecumenical Worship for the Season of Creation recently brought together over a hundred Christians from various denominations in Nampula, northern Mozambique. This gathering served as a moment for prayer and a powerful display of solidarity in caring for creation, inspired by the encyclical, “Laudato Si’”. Additionally, the event was an opportunity for participants to advocate for peace in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province.

Pope invites Rome’s Jewish community to promote peace

Pope Leo XIV sends a telegram to the Chief Rabbi of Rome on the occasion of Rosh Ha-Shanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, expressing gratitude for mutual bonds of friendship and inviting the Jewish community to always promote peace.

Pope to Joint Working Group: Unity amid divided world

Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, offers a summary of the plenary session of the Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches (WCC) and their meeting with Pope Leo.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: There can be no peace without justice

Interview with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople by Vatican News: “In Ukraine, a fratricidal war—a scandal for the Christian world, and especially for the Orthodox Church.”

Pope Leo XIV: Seek grace to pursue path of unity and fraternal charity

At Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV received Greek Orthodox, Byzantine Catholic, and Latin Catholic pilgrims from the United States who are taking part in an ecumenical pilgrimage to Rome, Constantinople, and Nicea.

Pope to Ukrainian Bishops: Let us remain united in faith, hope

In an Audience with members of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV recalls the duty of Bishops “to serve Christ in every wounded and suffering person who turns to your communities for concrete help”, and prays that peace may return to Ukraine “as soon as possible”.

Pope reaffirms commitment to full communion with Orthodox Church

Addressing a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Leo XIV reiterates his commitment to respectful dialogue and collaboration aimed at restoring full visible communion.

Steps along path of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue

When officials of the Holy See made a pilgrimage through the Jubilee Holy Door this week, they were joined by an Orthodox theologian whose organization helped organize a major Catholic-Orthodox conference on the Council of Nicaea.

Pope Leo XIV: What unites Christians is far greater than what divides

Pope Leo XIV meets with participants in the Symposium “Nicaea and the Church of the Third Millennium: Towards Catholic-Orthodox Unity,' and highlights the many aspects that unite Christians, as the Church celebrates the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

Council of Nicaea: A light on path of understanding the faith

A conference in Rome studies the International Theological Commission's document, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour: 1,700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.”

Pope Leo XIV meets with head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

The Major Archbishop of Kyiv expresses his gratitude to Pope Leo while meeting with him in a private audience on Thursday morning. The Archbishop gives him a painting entitled “Requiem Prayer” depicting the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Jubilee of Eastern Churches: Divine Liturgy in the East Syriac Rite

On the eve of the Jubilee of Eastern Church's encounter with Pope Leo XIV, a Divine Liturgy in the East Syriac rite is celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica on the occasion of the Jubilee.

Jubilee of Eastern Churches: Divine Liturgy in Ethiopian Rite at St. Peter’s

Ethiopian Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa, presides over the Divine Liturgy in the Geʽez Rite concelebrated with Eritrean Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam of Asmara.

Jubilee of Eastern Churches: Divine Liturgy in the Coptic Rite

His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Catholic Copts and President of the Assembly of Patriarchs and Bishops of Egypt, presides over the Divine Liturgy of the Coptic Rite on the occasion of the Jubilee of Eastern Churches in the Pauline Chapel of St. Mary Major.

Jubilee of Eastern Churches: Armenian Patriarch Minassian prays for peace

On the occasion of the Jubilee of Eastern Churches, Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, head of the Armenian Catholic Church, presides over the Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Rite at St. Mary Major, and calls for the elimination of hatred in all its forms.

Christian leaders across the world welcome Pope Leo XIV

Following the election of Pope Leo XIV Christian leaders across the ecumenical spectrum send messages and statements highlighting a shared commitment to unity, peace, and collaborative witness in the spirit of dialogue.

Pope Francis celebrated as bridge-builder by Lutheran leaders

The Lutheran World Federation’s General Secretary reflects on the late Pope Francis’ legacy of unity, inclusion, and reconciliation and describes his witness as a source of inspiration for believers worldwide.

Pope Francis’ desire to foster unity among Christian Churches

Throughout his twelve years as head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis’ push for a greater sense of unity between all Christian Churches was evident through his words and deeds.

Theophilos III: Dialogue is the only way to unity and peace

The Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, calls for reflection on the celebration of Easter 2025, which falls on the same day for Christians of East and West. He urges walking together also to achieve peace and security in the Holy Land. He writes, 'a sound foundation has been laid but there is yet more to be done. We continue in this work confident in God's providence and renewed in the unconquered hope that is given to us in the Empty Tomb.'

Churches highlight the “Spirit of Nicaea” in their Easter Messages

In their respective Easter Messages, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the World Council of Churches draw upon the spiritual and historical significance of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea 1,700 years ago, to emphasize unity and their shared tradition, further highlighted this year by the common celebration of Easter.

Pope Francis and Rome‘s Chief Rabbi exchange Easter greetings

On the occasion of Easter, Pope Francis and the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, exchange messages of mutual good wishes, continuing a tradition of fraternal dialogue and interreligious friendship.

Christians in Iraqi Kurdistan gather for ecumenical Palm Sunday procession

In a shared witness of faith and unity, the Christian community of Ankawa, Erbil, gathered on the eve of Palm Sunday for the 14th annual Ecumenical Palm Sunday Procession under the theme, “Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”