The Pope sees the “provincial” moment as Catholics, Orthodox hopes to celebrate Easter 2025 together – BC Catholic

Pope Francis put Jesus’ deep question “Do you believe this?” For Christians around the world during the Vespers ecumenical service on Saturday night, as inertia is built for Catholics and Orthodox to consider the celebration of Easter on the same date during this historical Anniversary.

Speaking in the Basilica of St. Paul beyond the walls at the end of the 58th week of prayer for Christian unity, the pontiff was reflected in the meeting of Christ with Martha after Lazar’s death, emphasizing that the hope “rises from the ashes of death”.

“This gentle meeting between Jesus and Martha teaches us that even in times of deep void, we are not alone and we can continue to hope,” the Pope said during his Homilia, who was focused on the theme of the week, “Do you believe in this the week ? ”From John 11:26.

The celebration on January 25 celebrated the solemn conclusion of this year’s prayer week for Christian unity, which the Pope associated with the ongoing anniversary year.

“This message of hope is at the heart of the anniversary we have begun,” Francis said, referring to the words of the Apostle Paul to the Romans, which “Hope does not disappoint us because God’s love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Rome 5: 5).

Earlier on Saturday, the Pope called on journalists in the Jubilee World of Communications to tell “Stories of Hope”, sounding the strong appeal for hope in the papal message for the 59th World Social Communications Day.

At the Vespers service, the Pope noted that the focus of this whole anniversary year was on hope, and “provincial” coincides with the 1700th anniversary of the Nicaea Council.

He stressed that the profession of council’s faith “exceeds all the divisions that have transferred the body of Christ through the centuries.”

Cardinal Kurt Koch, a prefect of Dicasteri for the promotion of Christian unity, addressed the Holy Father before the apostolic blessing. He recalled the Pope’s historical visit in 2014 to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to Constantinople (Modern Istanbul), where Francis confirmed that the “Catholic Church did not intend to impose any requirements except the profession of ordinary faith” to achieve complete unity.

This hope of unity has gained speed in recent months. Last November, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople confirmed ongoing conversations between church representatives to establish a common Easter date, potentially in early 2025.

“In this week of prayer for Christian unity, we can experience the anniversary of the Nicaea Council as a call to persevere on the way to unity,” the Pope said on Saturday, renewing his call that Christians could make a “decisive step forward to unity around Common date for Easter. “

Backing the “providing” deadline, Francis noted that Easter would fall on the same date in both the Gregorian and Julian Calendars this year. “Let’s rediscover the common roots of faith,” the pontiff called. “Let’s keep the unity!”

Representatives of various Christian churches and church communities present in Rome participated in the evening holiday, including the capital Polycarp, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Archbishop Ian Ernest of Anglican communion, which graduated from his service.

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