Ecumenical Prayer for Pope Francis and all the Sick

On Friday 21 March, an Ecumenical Prayer for the sick and suffering and the health of Pope Francis took place in the church of San Lorenzo in Piscibus, near the Vatican. The service, animated by the Community of Taizé, was organised by the Methodist Ecumenical Office, the Reformed Churches Ecumenical Office, and the Anglican Centre in Rome, in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Office of Ecumenism and Dialogue of the Diocese of Rome.

Over 75 people from various Christian confessions participated. Among the church leaders participating were the Prior of Taizé, Br Matthew, Revd Matthew Laferty of the Methodist Ecumenical Office, Revd Tara Curlewis of the Reformed Churches Ecumenical Office, Revd Jim Linthicum of the Anglican Centre in Rome, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and Mons. Marco Gnavi of the Office of Ecumenism and Dialogue of the Diocese of Rome. Chants from the Community of Taizé were led by a group of musicians drawn from several Christian traditions present in Rome.