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Rome to host ecumenical vigil during Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby exchange greetings with other Christian leaders at an ecumenical second vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Jan. 25, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Madrid, Spain, Jan 16, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

TheWeekofPrayerforChristianUnity,whichrunsJan.18–25,takesonspecialsignificancethisyearbecauseofthe1,700thanniversaryofthefirstecumenicalcouncilinhistory,theCouncilofNicaeainA.D.325. OnJan.25,thefeastoftheConversionofSt.Paul,PopeFranciswillconcludethisweekofprayerwithvespersinSt.PaulOutsidetheWallsBasilicaat5:30p.m.Rometime. Inaddition,onThursday,Jan.23,at6p.m.,theDioceseofRomewillorganizeatravelingvigilinvolvingthreedifferentplacesofworship:theLutheranchurchlocatedat70ViaSicilia,St.AndrewOrthodoxChurchat153ViaSardegna,andSt.CamillusdeLellisParishat41ViaPiemonte. AccordingtoastatementreleasedbytheVicariateofRome,thisisnotsimplyaprayervigilbut“abriefpilgrimageinthreestages”withbiblicalmeditationsintendedforevangelicals