Pope Francis is assisted as he walks down stairs during his general audience at the
Pope Francis has decided to cancel his appearance at three events that he had planned to lead in the coming days, including the concluding prayer for the Week of Christian Unity and an important address to the Vatican diplomatic corps, because he is suffering from sciatica, a painful nerve condition.
The director of the Vatican press office, Matteo Bruni, announced the cancellations this Saturday evening, Jan. 23. Nevertheless, he said that Pope Francis would preside at the Angelus prayer on Sunday at midday, which suggests that his problem is not as serious as past flare-ups.
January 18, 2021
In 1908, Rev. Paul Wattson, then an Anglican religious in Graymoor, New York, began a Church Unity Octave with the support of Anglican and Catholic prelates, including Cardinal William O’Connell of Boston.
The octave began on January 18, then the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter in Rome, and concluded on January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
The following year, Wattson and other members of his Society of the Atonement became Catholic, and in 1910, Wattson was ordained to the priesthood. Observance of the octave spread rapidly. In 1916, Pope Benedict XV, renaming it the Chair of Unity Octave, extended its observance to the entire Church.
COVID-19 and ecumenism: Pandemic prompts prayer, action
Jan 17, 2021 catholic news service
Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is pictured in a Jan. 29, 2017, photo. (Credit: Giampiero Sposito/CNS.)
The pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions have had an impact on the Catholic Church s relationships with other Christian churches, but the effects were not all bad.
ROME The pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions have had an impact on the Catholic Church’s relationships with other Christian churches, but the effects were not all bad.
Around the globe, Christians of different denominations have and continue to practice what Pope Francis has called the “ecumenism of charity,” working together to care for the sick, support the mourning and feed the hungry.
COVID-19 and ecumenism: Pandemic prompts prayer, action
Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is pictured in a Jan. 29, 2017, photo. (CNS photo/Giampiero Sposito)
By Cindy Wooden • Catholic News Service • Posted January 14, 2021
VATICAN CITY (CNS) The pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions have had an impact on the Catholic Church’s relationships with other Christian churches, but the effects were not all bad.
Around the globe, Christians of different denominations have and continue to practice what Pope Francis has called the “ecumenism of charity,” working together to care for the sick, support the mourning and feed the hungry.
A post on the Council’s website notes that by launching the updated document on January 3rd, the day this year when Catholics and Lutherans recall the 500th anniversary of the excommunication of Martin Luther, both the Lutheran World Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity underscore their commitment to walk together on their common journey from conflict to communion.
Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council, spoke with Thaddeus Jones of Vatican News about the importance of this initiative.
Q: Bishop Farrell, how would you describe the importance of this joint Catholic-Lutheran initiative in updating the Italian translation of the joint declaration on the Doctrine of Justification?