Visit of Cardinal Koch to Prague

From 7 to 9 January 2025, Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, visited Prague for an ecumenical trip.

On 8 January, Cardinal Koch met with the Bishops of the Czech Republic at the Archbishop’s Palace in Prague. The meeting, attended by Archbishop Jan Graubner of Prague, focused on the topic "The Bishop and Christian Unity: Ecumenical Vademecum," during which Cardinal Koch reflected on the role of bishops in fostering unity among Christians.

In the afternoon, Cardinal Koch was awarded an honorary doctorate by Charles University and delivered a lectio magistralis entitled 'Being Disciples of God.'

The day concluded with an ecumenical prayer service at St Ursula’s Church, in the presence of the Ecumenical Council of Churches of the Czech Republic. During the service, the Cardinal preached a homily inspired by the Gospel passage from John 11:26: 'Do you believe this?' Following the prayer, there was an informal gathering with members of the Ecumenical Council, offering an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between different Christian traditions.

On 9 January, Cardinal Koch celebrated Holy Mass in the Chapel of St Wenceslas inside Prague Cathedral before visiting the tomb of Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, a key figure in the promotion of Christian unity within the Czech Church.