The Faith and Order Study Group on Ecclesiology held a meeting at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, near Geneva, 8-12 January 2017, to continue its study of responses to the convergence document “The Church: Towards a Common Vision” submitted by Churches, councils of Churches, ecumenical organisations and individuals. So far, Faith and Order has received almost 60 responses and it is expected that this number or grow in the coming weeks and months. The group analysed carefully more than twenty responses. Its work will continue through video conferences in the coming weeks as well as through the Faith and Order Commission meeting that will take place in South Africa next June. The process is slow because each response is analysed individually by the whole group. Continue reading →

Paris, France, 9–12 January 2017

“Take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16: 33)

1. At the invitation of His Eminence Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, the 5^th European Catholic-Orthodox Forum was held from 9^th to 12^th January, 2017 at the headquarters of the Missions Etrangères of Paris, France. The Forum was co-chaired by Cardinal Peter Erdő, on behalf of the President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Continue reading →

The fifth European Catholic-Orthodox Forum met in Paris (France) on 9-12 January 2017 at the Missions Étrangères de Paris. This is the fifth edition of the Forum, an initiative promoted by the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) along with the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the accordance of the Orthodox Churches present in Europe. It includes the participation of 12 representatives from the Orthodox Churches in Europe and 12 delegates from the Catholic Church. Among the Orthodox delegation were representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Antioch, the Churches of Russia, Serbia, Romania, Georgia, Cyprus, Greece, Albania and Czech Lands and Slovakia. The Catholic delegation included representatives from Belarus, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russia and Turkey. Continue reading →

In his Christmas encyclical, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew proclaimed 2017 as the year of Protection of Childhood. “We appeal to all of you to respect the identity and sacredness of childhood. In light of the global refugee crisis that especially affects the rights of children; in light of the plague of child mortality, hunger and child labor, child abuse and psychological violence, as well as the dangers of altering children’s souls through their uncontrolled exposure to the influence of contemporary electronic means of communication and their subjection to consumerism, we declare 2017 as the Year of Protection of the Sacredness of Childhood, inviting everyone to recognize and respect the rights and integrity of children”. Continue reading →