The Vatican presented a vademecum to help bishops promote dialogue with Christians of other confessions, like Orthodox and Protestants, in their own dioceses.
It contains many practical indications. For example, it says that all seminaries and theology departments must offer an obligatory course in ecumenism.
CARD. KURT KOCH
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
“We hope this vademecum will help bishops and the entire Catholic Church on the path toward the full communion that the Lord prayed for.”
It also recommends organizing cultural initiatives or charitable projects with other Christians, as well as dedicating time to pray together.
It states that ecumenism is an obligation for all Catholics, especially for bishops. That's why it asks not to wait for others to reach out, but rather, for Catholics to take the initiative.
The document was put together by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. It's a project that continues an idea from the Second Vatican Council and from St. John Paul II's encyclical, “Ut unum sint,” published in 1995.
Javier Romero
Translation: Claudia Torres
