Fourth session of 2020–2021 Ut unum sint Diploma

The fourth session of the Ut unum sint Diploma, the course on ongoing formation in ecumenism organized by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Angelicum together with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity took place on 22 and 23 January 2021.

The fourth session, dedicated to “Practical Ecumenism”, included lessons on “Ecumenism and Charity” (Dr Davide Bernocchi, Iraq, Catholic Relief Services), “The Social Doctrines of the Church” (Professor Helen Alford, OP, Angelicum), “Justice and Peace: Ecumenical Collaboration” (Monsignor Marco Gnavi, Rome).

On Friday 22 January, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Western Europe and Representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Rome, delivered the first lecture in cycle of the 2021 “Tillard Chair” on “Synodality and Christian Unity: An Oriental Orthodox Perspective”.

On Saturday afternoon 23 January an ecumenical visit took place at the Anglican Centre in Rome, where the students were welcomed by Archbishop Ian Ernest, Director of the Centre and Personal Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See. The visit was also followed online by some of the students.

The “Ut unum sint” Diploma is a course of ongoing formation in ecumenism inaugurated in 2019 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the encyclical Ut unum sint. The programme, which is offered both on–campus and online, comprises 16 units, undertaken on Friday–Saturday monthly, for two years. Each thematic unit consists of three lectures, an ecumenical visit and a conference with an ecumenical leader (Tillard Chair). The 2020–2021 group of students comprises about 20 students, many of whom are involved at the diocesan level as delegates for ecumenism.