Ecumenical Prayer Vigil ahead of Synod approaches

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis will preside over the ecumenical prayer vigil ahead of the upcoming Synod's General Assembly in St Peter’s Square on Saturday, 30 September.

This vigil of prayer will welcome the participation and presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I; the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and many other Church leaders, as well as thousands of Christians from different denominations.

Saturday evening's prayer vigil, is intended to entrust to the Holy Spirit the work of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod, taking place in the Vatican on 4-29 October, and will include listening to the Word of God, praise and intercession, Taizé songs and silence.

Event transmitted live 

The programme leading up to the prayer and the ecumenical vigil will be transmitted live by Vatican Media via its YouTube channel, with translation into eight different languages.

The following are the tools to learn the latest about the event on social platforms: Facebook / Instagram: @30Sept2023 #Together2023 ; and on X (formerly known as Twitter): @Together2023

According to a press release diffused by the Holy See Press Office on Monday, before Saturday's prayer vigil, from 5 to 6 pm, there will be a celebration of gratitude centered on four gifts, namely, gratitude for the gift of unity and for the synodal journey; the gift of the other; the gift of peace; and the gift of the Creation.

As the Churches are celebrating the Season of Creation, St Peter’s Square will also be full, of trees and flowers, as well as the San Damiano Cross of St. Francis.

Young, world united in prayer

Thousands of young adults from various countries will take part in a programme of workshops and meetings around Rome, from 29 Sept. to 1 Oct., which includes the ecumenical prayer vigil on Saturday and, earlier that afternoon, a prayer of praise and worship in the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

The young adults' workshop themes include hearing from refugees of their experiences, learning from other denominations and faiths, visiting the work of the city missions to the marginalized, recognising Christ in the diversity of our traditions, ecumenical panel discussions, and caring for creation.

In the same spirit, more than 200 common prayers have been organized across the world, on or around, 30 September, with Christians from different Churches sharing prayer and reflection together in their own countries.