World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay joined His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo XIV for an ecumenical prayer service. His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew noted the hope expressed through the sacred commemoration even in world with upheavals, difficulties, and divisions. “We are here to bear living witness to the same faith expressed by the fathers of Nicaea,” he said. “We return to this wellspring of the Christian faith in order to move forward. The power of this place does not reside in what passes away but in what endures forever.” Pillay shared a Gospel reading from John 17, which includes a passage with a prayer from Jesus that is oft-cited in the World Council of Churches: “That they all shall be one, just as you, my Father, are in me, and I am in you.” Delivering a message, Pope Leo XIV acknowledged that we live in a time marked by may tragic signs yet we are linked by a profound bond. “In this way, we are all invited to overcome the scandal of the divisions that unfortunately still exist, to nurture the desire for unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life,” said Pope Leo. “Today, the whole of humanity afflicted by violence and conflict is crying out for reconciliation.” His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo XIV signed a Joint Declaration giving thanks for the fraternal meeting 1700 years ago and in the present. “We are convinced that the commemoration of this significant anniversary can inspire new and courageous steps on the path towards unity,” reads the declaration. “The goal of Christian unity includes the objective of contributing in a fundamental and life-giving manner to peace among all peoples.” The declaration encourages the whole of humanity to knit together. “While we are deeply alarmed by the current international situation, we do not lose hope,” the declaration reads. “God will not abandon humanity.” Watch the full recording from Vatican News | 
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