Ecumenical Conference in Addis Ababa

An ecumenical conference on “Relations between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Catholic Church in Ethiopia” was held from 1–2 May 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference focussed in particular on the history of relations between the two Churches and between the Holy See and Ethiopia, and was the first initiative of this kind in Ethiopia.

Under the chairmanship of Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel, the conference gathered more than 100 experts and participants, among them Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, former Nuncio in Ethiopia, Reverend Daniel Seifemichael, Orthodox member of the International Commission for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Professor Dietmar Winkler, Consultor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Dr Alfons Kloss, President of the Pro Oriente Foundation.

Archbishop Cyril Vasil, Secretary of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, read a message of Pope Francis encouraging the initiative. Reverend Hyacinthe Destivelle greeted the participants on behalf of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.