Visit of Pope Francis to the Ecumenical Centre will strengthen quest for unity
Earlier this year the Lund Cross, which was used at the joint commemoration in Lund in 2016, was installed in the chapel of the Ecumenical Center. Photo: LWF/M. Aronson
Recognition of WCC’s important work
(LWI) - The LWF is looking forward to meeting Pope Francis in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 21 June.
“We are encouraged and grateful that Pope Francis is coming to the Ecumenical Centre, a place that is central to the ecumenical movement,” said LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge, who led worship with the Pope at the Joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation in Lund in 2016.
“We believe his visit will affirm and strengthen the quest for unity, which we pray and work for. It encourages joint witness for justice, peace and reconciliation in the midst of fragmentation and suffering in the world,” the LWF General Secretary added.
We see this visit as recognition of the important work of the WCC on its 70th anniversary year.
The visit to the Ecumenical Centre, announced at a press briefing in Rome earlier today, is on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the World Council of Churches. “We see this visit as recognition of the important work of the WCC on its 70th anniversary year,” said General Secretary Junge. Pope Francis will also meet with Swiss government officials and celebrate mass with the Catholic community of Geneva. This is the first papal visit to Switzerland since 1984.
Earlier this year the Lund Cross, which was used at the joint commemoration in Lund in 2016, was installed in the chapel of the Ecumenical Center. “I am looking forward to meeting again at the foot of the cross, under which we gathered in Lund, Sweden, when we pledged to move away from conflict and embrace communion between Catholics and Lutherans,” the LWF General Secretary added.
