Letter of the Holy Father to Cardinal Koch for the 25th anniversary of ‘Ut unum sint’

On the 25th anniversary of the encyclical “Ut unum sint’, published on 25 May 1995, the Holy Father Pope Francis sent a letter to Cardinal Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Giving thanks to the Lord for “the journey he has allowed us to travel as Christians in quest of full communion”, the Holy Father renewed “gratitude to all who have worked and continue to work in the Dicastery to keep the awareness of this irrevocable goal alive in the Church.

Pope Francis mentioned in particular two recent important initiatives of the Dicastery. The first is the Ecumenical Vademecum for bishops which will be published this coming autumn “as an encouragement and guide for the exercise of their ecumenical responsibilities”. The second initiative is the launch of the bulletin Acta Œcumenica which, by renewing Dicastery’s Information Service, “is meant to assist all who work in the service of unity".

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity also celebrates this year the 60th anniversary of its establishment on 6 June 1960, with the Motu proprio Superno Dei Nutu of Saint Pope John XXIII.