Cardinal Mario Grech, the Synod’s Secretary-General, and Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, invite all Christians to pray for unity during the 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and to continue walking together.

A Joint Letter

 In a joint letter, sent on October 28, 2021, to all Bishops responsible for ecumenism, Cardinal Koch and Cardinal Grech, made suggestions geared to implement the ecumenical dimension of the synodal process in the local Churches. “In fact, both synodality, as well as ecumenism, are processes of walking together,” wrote the two Cardinals.

The 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on the theme “We saw his star appear in the East and we have come to honor Him,” prepared by the Council of the Churches of the Middle East, offers a propitious occasion to pray with all Christians, so that the Synod proceeds in an ecumenical spirit. Reflecting on the theme, the two Cardinals affirm: “Like the Magi, Christians also walk together (synods) guided by the same heavenly light and meeting the same darkness of the world. They are also called to adore Jesus together and to open their treasures. Aware of our need to be accompanied by our brothers and sisters in Christ, and of their numerous gifts, we invite them to walk with us during these two years  and we pray sincerely that Christ may bring us closer to Him and thus bring us closer to one another.”

A Prayer for the Week

 The General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity are, therefore, happy to offer the following prayer, which can be added to the other intentions suggested: Heavenly Father, as the Magi traveled to Bethlehem guided by the star, so, with your heavenly light, guide the Catholic Church so that she may walk together with all Christians during this synodal period. As the Magi were united in their adoration of Christ, bring us close to your Son and thus closer to one another, in order to be a sign of the unity that you desire for your Church and for the whole of creation. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Translation by Virginia M. Forrester