A week of dialogue, prayer and pilgrimage to Rome and Canterbury: On the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby will solemnly commission 50 bishops from 27 countries for a common mission and a common witness.
In preparation for the upcoming Holy Year of 2025 and the opening of the Holy Door in December, Pope Francis has declared a year of prayer. When done,…
During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, bishops from the Anglican and Roman Catholic traditions will come together January 22-29 to “Grow Together,” a week-long ecumenical discussion and pilgrimage summit taking place January 22-29 2024 in Rome and Canterbury.
Represent the world
The bishops will come in pairs – Anglicans and Catholics – and will represent different countries around the world. More than 50 bishops from 27 countries will participate. As the bishops visit holy sites in Rome and Canterbury, they will pray, reflect and learn from each other. The goal is to discuss ways they can grow together in witness and mission in the world.
Significant moment
On January 25, Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury will ask bishops at the tomb of the Apostle Paul to witness Christian unity in groups of two. This will be a significant and symbolic moment for Anglican-Catholic relations and the promotion of ecumenical dialogue, said a statement from IARCCUM, the International Anglican-Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, which supports ecumenical dialogue between traditions, which founded and organized the event.
The program
In addition to the central date of January 25, the Roman leg of the pilgrimage also includes an Anglican Eucharist sung on January 25 at St. Bartholomew's Church, presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Two days earlier, on the 23rd, a visit to St. Peter's Basilica is on the agenda, while on the 26th a visit to the church of San Gregorio al Celio is planned, from where in 597 the first Archbishop of Canterbury, sent to England by Pope Gregory the Great was visited, left.
In Canterbury, the bishops will participate in the Eucharist at Canterbury Cathedral on January 28, where the Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Stephen Chow, will give a homily.
(Vatican news – cs)