All Churches in the northern hemisphere will celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from 18th to 25th January 2024. In the southern hemisphere it will take place on the Feast of Pentecost. This year the motto chosen is from the Gospel of Luke: “Love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10: 27). Locally, in each country, city, diocese, and church community, moments of prayer, conferences, round tables, and ecumenical meetings, have been organized. In Rome, Pope Francis will conclude the week on Thursday, 25th January, together with representatives of various Christian Churches with the recitation of Vespers in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls.

On this occasion we offer a short video documentary on the meeting of people from the Focolare Movement belonging to various Churches in October 2023. It was attended by 150 people belonging to the Movement from 15 Christian Churches: Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches, Anglican Church, Lutheran and Reformed Churches, Pentecostal Church and Catholic Church. It was a meeting among people who have been living the spirituality of unity for years and have responded to God’s call in the various vocations of the Movement. It was a moment of deep communion in an exchange of testimonies of life in their own Church and in the Movement, each with different forms and expressions bringing into play talents, culture, knowledge, within the horizon of a constant commitment to unity at all levels.

A meeting marked by a great joy of coming together with strong bonds of unity, as in a family in which differences are valued as richness that can be known and shared to become a gift for all.

Read also a report by Lesley Ellison in New City January 2024, pages 10-11.

Watch the video: