The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) held an online Ecumenical Prayer for Christian Unity and for the Future of Europe on Friday 21 May 2021. The event featured a special message from His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Under the theme “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”, the virtual prayer was hosted by Ms Patrizia Toia, Member of the European Parliament. As emphasized in the message by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the event was an occasion to pray and reflect on the European values of peace and justice, and the role of the European Churches – especially amid the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The First Vice-President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, responsible for the implementation of Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), expressed appreciation for the role of the Churches in providing support to the communities severely affected by the pandemic. She also shared the importance of Churches’ participation in the Conference on Future of Europe.
The prayer was led by H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ and Rev. Christian Krieger, President of COMECE and CEC respectively, who highlighted the importance of unity in challenging times. They prayed together to overcome divisions and foster reconciliation across Europe.
The participants emphasised the significance of the Charta Œcumenica – Guidelines for the Growing Cooperation among Churches in Europe on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, affirming the role of this landmark document in developing fellowship among European Churches.