WCC NEWS: Newly published vademecum for Catholic bishops highlights importance of reciprocal trust

An Ecumenical Vademecum for Bishops, first drafted by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity then published by the dicastery with the blessing of Pope Francis, promotes ecumenism within the Catholic Church and within its relationships with other Christians. 21 June 2018, Geneva, Switzerland: An Ecumenical Encounter between Pope Francis and the World Council of Churches. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 26 January 2021 In describing the vademecum, and the work that went into crafting the text, Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, highlighted the council’s work with the World Council of Churches. “In the realm of spiritual ecumenism, one of the main activities of the Pontifical Council is the preparation each year, in cooperation with the World Council of Churches, of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” wrote Farrell. In order to promote the ecumenical spirit in the Catholic Church, the Pontifical Council has also recently equipped itself with new instruments. “First of all, a website (www.christianunity.va) which, in addition to offering updates on the ecumenical activity of the Holy See, presents all the ecumenical documents published since the time of the Second Vatican Council in order to encourage the study and reception of these texts,” wrote Farrell. Adding to this is a new journal, “Acta Œcumenica,” a new format of the “Information Service/Service d’information” bulletin which, published by the dicastery for more than 50 years, constitutes an authentic archive of the ecumenical commitment of the Catholic Church. These new tools reflect the ongoing commitment of the Pontifical Council to nurturing mutual understanding and reciprocal trust. “In spite of everything, 2020 did not halt the journey toward the restoration of unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed at the Last Supper,” wrote Farrell. See also: “Mutual understanding and reciprocal trust,” article in L’Osservatore Romano, by Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity New website of Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: www.oikoumene.org/week-of-prayer See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC interim general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland