Visit to the Vatican of the new Director of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of the WCC

Reverend Dr Risto Jukko (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland), new Director of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) of the World Council of Churches (WCC), visited Rome and the Vatican from 3–5 July, on the invitation of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU). The visit to the PCPCU included meetings with Cardinal Kurt Koch, President, Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary, and the Officials of the Eastern and Western Sections. Reverend Jukko also visited the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), and the Pontifical Mission Societies that have their international secretariats in Rome. A visit to the Vatican Museums, Saint Peter’s Basilica, and other sites important in the Christian history of the city completed the programme.

The CWME comprises some 25 members, including representatives of the member churches of the WCC, ecumenical partners, various mission bodies and specialized agencies for evangelisation. The Commission enables churches to share reflections and experiences on Christian witness in the world today. It includes three Catholics representing missionary orders (Father Stephen Bevans, SVD, USA, Sister Mary John Kudiyiruppil, SSpS, India, and Father Richard Nnyombi, M.Afr, Uganda).