Rome, October 2, 2023
Abp. Justin Welby (Anglican, left), Pope Francis (center), Pat. Bartholomew (right). Photo Vatican News YouTube screenshot
Pope Francis held an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil in Rome on Saturday, on the eve of the Catholic church’s Synod on Synodality that is set to begin on Wednesday.
The prayer event brought together various Catholic, Protestant, and Non-Chalcedonian representatives who offered prayers and readings throughout the nearly three-hour event.
Four Orthodox hierarchs also joined the various heterodox clergy and laity to read prayers during the event: Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Bishop Andrej of Austria and Switzerland of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Gennadios of Botswana of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and Metropolitan Seraphim of Germany of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Pat. Bartholomew offers a prayer to the Holy Spirit at 1:36:55 in the video above:
We are weak and sinful. Do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path, nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity, so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of You, Who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father, and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.”
Bp. Andrej offers a prayer at 2:04:10:
Christ Jesus, look upon Your family. We thank you for inviting us to follow You with our lives.
Met. Gennadios offers a prayer at 2:06:35:
Jesus Christ, look upon Your family. We entrust to You all those whom You nourish and strengthen with Your word of life.
And Met. Seraphim offers a prayer at 2:07:00:
For catechists, committed laypeople, the brothers and sisters of religious communities and all the pastors of Your Church, that in Your footsteps they may become increasingly servants of communion, we pray to You.
A similar event was held in 2020, with the participation of Pat. Bartholomew, Bishop Ambrose of Bogorodsk, vicar of the Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan Joseph of Western and Southern Europe of the Romanian Orthodox Church, in addition to clergy from a variety of Protestant traditions and the Catholic church. The “peace event” following the prayer service also featured talks by Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist representatives.
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