Ecumenism I.Rome -- The end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international Christian ecumenical observance kept annually between 18 January and 25 January. It is actually an octave, that is, an observance lasting eight days. (Jan. 18-25) saw pronouncements on the topic of ecumenism ecumenism Movement toward unity or cooperation among the Christian churches. The first major step in the direction of ecumenism was the International Missionary Conference of 1910, a gathering of Protestants. from the man most concerned with it in the Vatican--Cardinal Walter Kasper Cardinal Walter Kasper (born 5 March 1933 in Heidenheim an der Brenz) is a German prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in the Roman Curia, and Cardinal Deacon of , president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity origins are associated with the Second Vatican Council. Pope John XXIII wanted the Catholic Church to engage in the contemporary ecumenical movement. . In a closing message at the Basilica of St. Paul St. Paul as a missionary he fearlessly confronts the “perils of waters, of robbers, in the city, in the wilderness.” [N.T.: II Cor. 11:26] See : Bravery Outside the Walls, he reminded his listeners of this year's theme, "My Peace I Give You" and especially asked for prayers for peace in the Middle East. Great progress has been made in the past ten years, but "We cannot pretend," he said, "that everything is perfect ... Having filled the fissures that once divided us, we note now that new ones open in the area of ethics." Cardinal Kasper said there are reasons to worry, but Christians are people of hope and must not lose heart. One event that must have heartened Cardinal Kasper occurred in Egypt the following week. The first meeting of the international joint commission for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Churches took place in Cairo Jan. 27-30. Hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope (etymologically 'Father', like Abbot etc.), and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome. , the meeting was jointly chaired by Cardinal Kasper and Metropolitan Amba Bishoy of Damiette, general secretary of the Coptic Orthodox Synod. This meeting marks the start of an official theological dialogue between the churches. The Eastern Orthodox Churches, separated from Rome since the first millennium, have developed their own specific traditions. They include the Syrian Orthodox, the Armenian Apostolic and others, as well as the Copts. The participants will have a further meeting next January, probably in Rome. |
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