Pope Francis invites faithful of all Christian denominations to Rome for an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil for the Synod.
In the aftermath of the Angelus on Sunday, Jan. 15, and on the eve of the celebration of the traditional Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis recalled how “the journey toward Christian unity and the Church’s journey of synodal conversion are linked.”
Underscoring this close bond was the announcement of an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil, next Sept. 30 in St. Peter’s Square, to which he invited “brothers and sisters of all Christian denominations” and with which “we will entrust to God the work of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.”
To the young people coming to Rome to participate in the ecumenical vigil, the Pope announced that there will be “a special program throughout the weekend by the Taizé community.”
Below is the full text of the announcement:
The path toward Christian unity and the Church’s path of synodal conversion are linked. I therefore take this opportunity to announce that next Saturday, September 30, an ecumenical prayer vigil will take place in St. Peter’s Square with which we will entrust to God the work of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. For young people coming to the vigil there will be a special program throughout the weekend organized by the Taizé community. As of now, I invite brothers and sisters of all Christian denominations to participate in this gathering of God’s people.
https://www.synodresources.org/it/resource_post/250804/
In particular, young people between the ages of 18 and 35, from all over Europe and from all ecclesial realities, are invited for a weekend of sharing, from Friday evening, September 29, to Sunday afternoon, October 01.
Prayer vigils will be held in different parts of the world, either at the same time as the event of the Synod of the Church of Rome, or on nearby dates, as a sign of communion with those gathered in Rome. We too can be promoters in our own cities and regions.