DPCU at the 500th Anniversary of the Anabaptist Movement

On 29 May, Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Monsignor Usma, Head of the Western Section, travelled to Zurich to take part in the commemoration marking the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist Movement, held under the theme “The Courage to Love”. They also attended a reception hosted for ecumenical guests by the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and the Swiss Mennonite Conference. At the conclusion of the reception, the Reverend César García, Secretary General of the MWC, remarked: “May this day symbolise our commitment to follow Jesus as we strive to restore wholeness within our spiritual family and the Body of Christ.”

Mgr Usma, together with the Reverend Larry Miller, former Secretary General of the MWC, and Professor Dirk Lange, Assistant General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, took part in a workshop entitled “The Trilateral Dialogue on Baptism”, held at the University of Zurich and moderated by Professor Anne-Cathy Graber (Mennonite). The workshop reflected on the text, context, and future prospects of the ongoing Mennonite dialogue.

The highlight of the day was the ecumenical celebration at the Grossmünster Kirche in Zurich, during which Cardinal Koch read out a message from Pope Leo XIV. The liturgy, centred on “the courage to love within the wounded Body of Christ”, unfolded in three moments, celebrating the Mennonites’ journey of reconciliation with the Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed traditions. On this occasion, contrary to normal mennonite practice, it was decided to recite the Nicene Creed as a sign of their belonging to the wider Christian family.