Global Christian Unity Week Commences with a Focus on Love for God and Neighbor

As the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity unfolds, Catholics and Christians globally are set to join in the celebration from January 18 to 25.

The theme for 2024, “You shall love the Lord your God … and your neighbor as yourself,” derived from the Gospel of Luke, has been chosen by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, and the ecumenical community of Chemin Neuf in Burkina Faso.

Diverse Daily Meditations and Readings

Each day of the weeklong celebration is intricately woven around different Scripture readings and meditations, offering participants a spiritual journey through the designated theme.

Comprehensive materials, including ecumenical service texts, historical insights, and key dates in ecumenical relations, have been prepared for the occasion and are available on the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity’s website.

A Tradition Rooted in History

Dating back to 1908, the international effort, initially known as the Octave of Christian Unity, was spearheaded by Servant of God Father Paul Wattson.

Father Wattson, the founder of an Anglican religious community who later converted to Catholicism, gained approval from Pope Pius X for the initiative.

Pope Benedict XV further endorsed and promoted the event, solidifying its place as an annual celebration fostering Christian unity.