Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024 in Rome

As in other years, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Rome will be celebrated from 18-25 January.

The Holy Father Francis will preside over the Second Vespers of the Solemnity of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Tuesday 25 January at 17.30 in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls with the participation of representatives of the other Christian communities in Rome and Italy. The celebration will be broadcast live on the Vatican News website.

Other ecumenical initiatives are listed below:

THURSDAY 18 JANUARY

16:30
Centro Pro Unione (Via Santa Maria dell’Anima, 30 - Rome)
Synodality at your fingertips 
Speakers:
Dr Prof Tamara Grdzelidze, Professor at Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia; former Ambassador of Georgia to the Holy See
Dr Rev Maurizio Mirilli, Chaplain at the Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome; former Responsible for Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Rome
Dr Rev Vanessa Bayha, Director of the Centro Melantone, Rome

followed by a Taizé Prayer led by The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas

Organized by Centro Pro Unione and The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas

17:30
Santa Brigida (Piazza Farnese)
Ecumenical Vespers presided over by Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU), with the participation of Bishop Bo-Göran Åstrand, Diocese of Porvoo, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland,  Metropolitan Arseni of Kuopio and Karelia, Orthodox Church of Finland, and Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, Diocese of Helsinki, Catholic Church in Finland.

18:00
Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
Vespers with the Lutheran Community of Rome presided over by Revd Pastor Michael Jonas.

FRIDAY 19 JANUARY

16:00
Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Piazza della Minerva, 42 - Rome)
On the occasion of the feast of St. Henry of Finland, an ecumenical celebration presided over by Revd Bo-Göran Åstrand, Bishop of the Evangelical-Lutheran Diocese of Porvoo, with the participation of Revd Raimo Goyarrola, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Helsinki and Revd Arseni, Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in Finland. The songs will be performed by the Schola Borgoensis ensemble from Porvoo. The celebration is organised by the Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Church, the Finnish Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in Finland, in cooperation with the Embassy of Finland to the Holy See.

19:00
Parish San Gaspare del Bufalo (Piazza San Gaspare del Bufalo, Roma - Metro A - Station Arco di Travertino)
Ecumenical diocesan vigil presided over by H.E. Msgr Riccardo Lamba, Auxiliary Bisop of Eastern part of Rome and Delegate for Ecumenism. Preach by Revd Michael Jonas, Lutheran Pastor.

SATURDAY 20 JANUARY

16:00
Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (apse of the basilica)
Ecumenical Conference "Egyptian Monasticism: Permanent Source of Unity in the Church". Speaker: Revd Abbot Fernando Rivas, OSB

17:00
Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls Ecumenical Vespers with the Coptic Orthodox Community of Rome. Revd Father Mikhaiel El Antony presides.

18:30
Pontifical Beda College (V.le di San Paolo, 18, Rome)
Ecumenical celebration.

SUNDAY 21 JANUARY

10.00
Christ Church (Via Sicilia, 70) - Festive service with Bishop Manzke and Bishop Åstrand (Finland)

19.00
S. Maria dell'Anima - Ecumenical Vespers with the Choir of the Christ Church                                                                          

MONDAY 22 JANUARY

18:00 
Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
Ecumenical Vespers with the Anglican Community of Rome presided over by Revd Jonathan Boardmann.

TUESDAY 23 JANUARY

12:45
Anglican Center in Rome (Piazza del Collegio Romano, 2, Rome)
Eucharist (anglican rite) - Homely: H.E. Card. Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of Vatican City.

17:00
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) (Largo Angelicum, 1, Rome)
Academic event on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

17:45
Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls: Vespers with the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy presided over by Bishop Siluan. 

18.00
Basilica Saint Peter (Choir Chapel)
Choral Evensong (Anglican Vespers) on the occasion of IARCCUM (International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission) meeting.

19.00
Methodist Church (Via XX Settembre) - Ecumenical Prayer

WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY

19.00
Parish of St. Saturninus the Martyr (Via Avigliana, 3) - Ecumenical Prayer

THURSDAY 25 JANUARY

11:30
Basilica di San Bartolomeo all'Isola
Eucaristia cantata (rito anglicano) - Presidenza e Omelia: S.G. Justin Welby, Arcivescovo di Canterbury.

17:30
Basilica Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Secondi vespri della solennità della Conversione di San Paolo Apostolo celebrate in conclusione della Settimana di preghiera per l'unità dei cristiani e presieduti da Sua Santità Papa Francesco.