VATICAN - 18/25 JANUARY, WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY: “MY PEACE I GIVE YOU”

Vatican City (Fides Service) – The annual week of prayer for Christian Unity 18 to 25 January, this year has the theme of peace, peace of believers in Christ for peace for the whole of humanity: “My Peace I Give You” (Jn 14,27). In its Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio, the Second Vatican Council described prayer for the unity of Christians as “the soul of the entire ecumenical movement” (n.8). Since 1966 the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity among Christians has worked closely with the World Council of Churches to select special texts for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. 1968 was the year in which for the first time the Week was celebrated together and it had the theme “To Praise His Glory ”.
(S.L.) (Fides Service 17/1/2004; lines 8; words 126)