The gathering brought together 22 members from both the WCC and the Catholic Church, representing diverse regions and church traditions. Participants received updates on current initiatives of both partners aimed at strengthening collaboration and advancing the common search for Christian unity. In his address, Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, reflected on the opportunities and challenges facing the Joint Working Group in today’s ecumenical context. During the three-day meeting, members also deepened their understanding of the mission of the Roman Curia through exchanges with representatives of several dicasteries. They also met with leaders of Catholic ecumenical institutions in Rome and representatives of other Christian traditions. “The opening sessions offered participants an opportunity to share the challenges faced by their local churches, to reflect together on the situation of Christianity in today’s world and to provide an update on the life of each partner,” reads a communique from the meeting. The plenary reviewed the progress of its three study groups, which are focusing respectively on diverse understandings of salvation in a context of religious indifference; processes of reconciliation and peacebuilding; and challenges posed by intolerance and religious persecution. The communique noted that Christians face abduction, forced conversion, harassment, restrictions on religious expression, and unjust laws, while believers of other traditions also endure violence, showing that the denial of religious freedom harms all of humanity. “The group will look deeper into understandings of persecution and martyrdom, engaging with experiences of churches in various parts of the world and developing ecumenical tools for local churches to respond together in solidarity,” reads the communique. A highlight of the gathering was the audience with Pope Leo XIV, who encouraged the Joint Working Group to persevere in its mission of fostering unity in a world marked by division and conflict. Established in 1965, the Joint Working Group this year marks its 60th anniversary. Over six decades it has served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, building bridges of trust between the Catholic Church and the member churches of the WCC. Today it continues to accompany the churches on their common pilgrimage toward visible unity. Read the full communique Pope to Joint Working Group: Unity amid divided world (Vatican News, 4 September 2025) Joint Working Group Plenary in Rome (Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity news release, 4 September 2025) Learn more about the work of the Joint Working Group | 
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