Pray for unity, pray for the synod

By Vatican News

In a joint letter sent on 28 October 2021 to all bishops responsible for ecumenism, Cardinal Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Cardinal Grech, General Secretary of the Synod of the Bishops, offered suggestions aimed at implementing the ecumenical dimension of the synodal process in the local churches. The two Cardinals wrote: “Both synodality and ecumenism are processes of walking together.” Indeed, “since ecumenism can be understood as an 'exchange of gifts,' one of the gifts Catholics can receive from the other Christians is precisely their experience and understanding of synodality.”

The 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on the theme “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him” (Mt 2: 2) prepared by the Middle East Council of Churches, offers a propitious occasion to pray with all Christians that the Synod will promote Christian unity.

Opening our treasures

Reflecting on the theme, both Cardinals affirm “Like the Magi, Christians too journey together (synodos) guided by the same heavenly light and encountering the same worldly darkness. They too are called to worship Jesus together and open their treasures. Conscious of our need for the accompaniment and the many gifts of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we call on them to journey with us during these two years and we sincerely hope that ‘opening our treasures’ we will be able to share the gifts that the Holy Spirit has bestowed on the various Christian communities which are meant for the up-building and unity of all”.

Prayer

The General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity are therefore pleased to offer this prayer inspired by the theme, which could be added to the other intentions of the Week of Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
as the Magi journeyed towards Bethlehem led by the star,
so by your heavenly light,
guide the Catholic Church to walk together with all Christians during this time of synod.

As the Magi were united in their worship of Christ
lead us closer to your Son and and so to one another,
so that we become a sign of the unity that you desire for your Church and the whole creation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.