Prayer Vigil another step in the quest for Christian Unity

The former acting Secretary General of the World Council of Churches reflects on the significance of the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil that ushers in the Synod on Synodality.

By Delphine Allaire and Linda Bordoni

Reflecting on the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday evening is Reverend Ioan Sauca, former acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.

He told Vatican Radio why he believes the Prayer meeting, just before the beginning of the discussions on synodality by Catholic Bishops is of great importance:

Listen to Rev. Ioan Sauca

First of all, Rev Sauca notes, "It starts with prayer, but not only prayer by invocation of the Holy Spirit on the works of the Synod but also by inviting the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Christians to be together, with the Pope, invoking the Holy Spirit on the works of the Synod“.

Secondly, he continues, the fact that the very idea of having such a meeting came from the Taizé Community, a community which is very linked to the service of young people and the ideas and aspirations of young people, implies that it shows a new perspective.

“The young people want to bring Christians together in the search for Christian Unity, and this idea which came from Taizé was embraced by Pope Francis,” he emphasizes.

It is remarkable Rev. Sauca continues, that the idea has given life to this meeting that sees Taizé joined by the Dicasteries of the Vatican and the Vicariate of Rome who have come together to organise such a meeting.

“I think it has great importance.”

And reflecting on the content of the meeting himself, the WCC General Secretary says, it is of “great importance for the rapprochement of Christians, for Christian unity,” because the Catholic Church will be discussing the relationship “between primacy and synodality or conciliarity.”

“This, for ages has been discussed, in particular with the Orthodox churches, but also the Anglicans and others,” he says.

Now, the Reverend concludes, “the fact that the Catholics themselves came up with the idea” of talking about the relationship between primacy and synodality, ”is of great importance and is a great opportunity to bring Christians together.”