The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) assembled in November at the Vatican to mark a 50-year landmark in Roman Catholic ecumenical engagement. On Pentecost 1960, as part of preparations for the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII established the Catholic Church’s first secretariat for ecumenical dialogue. The PCPCU is its successor organization, and is the body that held an official international dialogue with Mennonite World Conference from 1998-2003.
The November celebration provided an occasion to assess the current state of ecumenical relations between diverse Christian traditions, with prominent representatives from other traditions participating. It also provided occasion for both Pope Benedict XVI and the new president of the PCPCU, Cardinal Kurt Koch of Switzerland, to signal current Vatican attitudes and priorities for its ecumenical engagement. The message was a mix of honest – even blunt – challenge and warm encouragement.
Bridgefolk will post links to systematic commentaries concerning the November meeting as they become available. For now, here are links to a variety of news stories and resources related to the event:
- Vatican Information Service report, 18 November
- Ecumenical News International (Protestant news source) report, 25 November
- Vatican Radio report, 18 November
- Papal address to the PCPCU, 18 November
- Address by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, 17 November
- Catholic News Service summary of papal address, 18 November
- Catholic News Service commentary on PCPCU assembly, 18 November
- Article in The Tablet, international Catholic weekly published in the UK, 20 November