2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Rome
As in other years, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Rome will be celebrated from 18-25 January.
The Holy Father Francis will preside over the Second Vespers of the Solemnity of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Saturday 25 January at 5.30 pm in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls with the participation of representatives of the other Christian communities in Rome and Italy. The celebration will be broadcast live on the Vatican News website.
Other ecumenical initiatives are listed below:
Photo: Pope Francis, Emeritus Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, Orthodox Metropolitan of Italy, Polykarpos, Archbishop Ian Ernest, Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome, and Cardinal Koch gather at the tomb of St Paul, 25 January 2024. © Vatican Media
SATURDAY 18 JANUARY
5.30 pm
Santa Brigida (Piazza Farnese, 96 - Rome)
Ecumenical Vespers presided over by Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU), with the participation of Bishop Matti Salomäki, Diocese of Lapua, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Archbishop Elia of Helsinki and All Finland, Orthodox Church of Finland, and Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, Diocese of Helsinki, Catholic Church in Finland.
SUNDAY 19 JANUARY
3.00 pm
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls - Prayer time with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and Pentecostal Communities, with the participation of Pastor Roberto Mazzeschi and Father César Pluchinotta.
4.00 pm
Ponte Sant'Angelo Methodist Church (Via del Banco di Santo pirito, 3 - Angle Piazza Ponte Sant'Angelo - Rome)
Homily: Reverend Canon Robert Warren, Chaplain of All Saints Church in Rome.
The celebration will be followed by a convivial moment.
4.00 pm
Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Piazza della Minerva, 42)
On the occasion of the feast of St. Henrik of Finland, a catholic mass will be celebrated by Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, Diocese of Helsinki, with the participation of Bishop Matti Salomäki, Diocese of Lapua, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Archbishop Elia of Helsinki and All Finland, Orthodox Church of Finland, and Archbishop Flavio Pace, Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
The songs will be performed by the Vox Aurea ensemble from Lapua and the Cappella Sanctae Mariae from Helsinki. The celebration is organised by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Orthodox Church of Finland and the Catholic Church in Finland, in cooperation with the Embassy of Finland to the Holy See.
MONDAY 20 JANUARY
6.00 pm
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls – Ecumenical vespers with the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, presided over by His Excellency Atanasie of Bogdania.
TUESDAY 21 JANUARY
6.00 pm
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls – Ecumenical vespers with the Lutheran community in Rome, presided over by Pastor Michael Jonas.
WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY
6.00 pm
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls – Ecumenical vespers with the Waldensian community in Rome, presided over by Pastor Marco Fornerone.
THURSDAY 23 JANUARY
4.00 pm
Centro Pro Unione (Via di Santa Maria dell'Anima, 30 - Rome)
Afternoon of reflection, prayer and celebration in collaboration with Centro Pro Unione at Foyer Unitas in Rome.
"The Council of Nicaea and Current Ecumenical Relations": Lecture by Dr. John Borelli, Special Assistant to the President for Catholic Identity and Dialogue, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
The ecumenical prayer will be followed by refreshments.
6.00 pm
Institut Français Centre Saint Louis (Largo Giuseppe Toniolo, 20)
Screening of the film "Amalfion. Benedictine presence on Mount Athos", followed by a round table discussion.
Speakers: Alexey Vozniuk, film director, Rev Father Hyacinthe Destivelle, OP, Director of the Institute for Ecumenical Studies at the Angelicum, and Prof Marco Merlini, International Scientific Coordinator of the "Insieme per l'Athos" Association. Moderator: Marie-Lucile Kubacki, journalist for the weekly La Vie.
6.00 pm
Itinerant Ecumenical Vigil of the Diocese of Rome
1st stop: Lutheran Church (Via Sicilia, 70)
2nd stop: Orthodox Church of S. Andrea (Via Sardegna, 153)
3rd stop: S. Camillo de Lellis Parish (Via Piemonte, 41)
Preaching: Pastor Mirella Manocchio (Methodist Church of Rome), Father Simeone Katsinas, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Mgr Paolo Ricciardi, Catholic Bishop.
6.00 pm
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls – Ecumenical Vespers with the Coptic Orthodox Community of Rome, presided over by Father Gabriel Antonio.
FRIDAY 24 JANUARY
5.00 pm
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls – Ecumenical Vespers with the Anglican Community presided over by the Revd Abbot Donato Ogliari, osb, with the participation of His Grace Ian Ernest and Bishop Michael Burrows.
SATURDAY 25 JANUARY
5.30 pm
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls - Second Vespers on the soleminity of the Conversion of Saint Paul Apostle celebrated at conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity presided by Pope Francis.