Pope renews invitation to Saturday’s Synod Vigil

By Joseph Tulloch

Pope Francis has reiterated his invitation to all Christians to attend the upcoming Synod prayer vigil in St Peter’s Square.

Speaking after his weekly recitation of the Angelus prayer, the Holy Father said that “I renew my invitation to participate in the ecumenical prayer vigil entitled ‘Together’, which will take place next Saturday, the 30th September, in St Peter’s Square, in preparation for the Synodal Assembly which will begin on the 4th October.”

Entrusting the Synod to the Holy Spirit

Around 3,000 young people from 40 different countries are expected at the vigil, which will be held from 5 to 7pm on Saturday 30th October.

Pope Francis will be joined by twelve representatives of various Christian traditions, including the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, and Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Speaking at a press conference in the Vatican earlier this month, Sr Nathalie Becquart, Undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod, said that the central goal of the vigil is to entrust the Synod to the Holy Spirit.

At the same time, she said, it will demonstrate “commitment to unity and peace in this world torn apart by so many divisions“, as well as “the importance of prayer” for the unity of all Christians.