Pope will go to Sweden for Reformation anniversary, Vatican announces

Last updated on: January 25, 2016 at 12:34 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope will go to Sweden for Reformation anniversary, Vatican announces 2016-01-25T12:34:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Jan 25, 2016 / 05:34 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis will take part in an ecumenical ceremony in Lund, Sweden, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the Vatican announced Monday.

The event will “will highlight the solid ecumenical developments between Catholics and Lutherans and the joint gifts received through dialogue,” according to a joint press release by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) and the World Lutheran Federation (LFW).

The Pope will lead the Oct. 31 commemorations alongside LWF President Bishop Younan and General Secretary Junge, in cooperation with the Church of Sweden and the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm.

The event will include common common according to the recently published “Common Prayer,” a jointly-written Catholic and Lutheran liturgical guide prepared for the Reformation anniversary commemorations.

“By concentrating together on the centrality of the question of God and on a Christocentric approach, Lutherans and Catholics will have the possibility of an ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation, not simply in a pragmatic way, but in the deep sense of faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ,” said PCPCU president, Cardinal Kurt Koch, in remarks published by the joint press statement.

“The LWF is approaching the Reformation anniversary in a spirit of ecumenical accountability,” said Junge, according to the joint press release.

“I’m carried by the profound conviction that by working towards reconciliation between Lutherans and Catholics, we are working towards justice, peace and reconciliation in a world torn apart by conflict and violence.”

Sweden, where the event will take place, was among the nations in which Catholics experienced oppression during the enforcement of changes brought about by the Reformation.

“The ecumenical situation in our part of the world is unique and interesting,” says Anders Arborelius OCD, Bishop of the Catholic Church in Sweden.

“I hope that this meeting will help us look to the future so that we can be witnesses of Jesus Christ and His gospel in our secularized world.”

“It is with joy and expectation that the Church of Sweden welcomes The Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church to hold the joint commemoration of the Reformation in Lund,” said Church of Sweden Archbishop Antje Jackelén, according to the statement.

“We shall pray together with the entire ecumenical family in Sweden that the commemoration will contribute to Christian unity in our country and throughout the world.”

October's ecumenical ceremony will kick-off the fifth centenary commemorations of the Reformation which will take place in 2017.

Vatican

Previous Post

January 24, 2016

Cost and conscience – why more Christians are ditching health insurance for this alternative

Next Post

January 25, 2016 Christians are united by mission and conversion, Pope Francis reflects

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What city did Paul visit where the people worshiped "an unknown god"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Rome Corinth Ephesus Athens