Vespers in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls is the most important ecumenical event of the year.
It is attended by the Pope and representatives of the various Christian denominations in Rome. In his homily, the Pope recalled that this year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, one of the most important in Christianity, which took place before the great schisms of the East and the Protestant reformation.
POPE FRANCIS
This Council sought to preserve the unity of the Church at a very difficult time, and the Council Fathers unanimously approved the Creed that many Christians still recite each Sunday at the celebration of the Eucharist.
The Pope also pointed out that this year the date of Easter also coincides in the Catholic and Orthodox calendars. He renewed the debate on whether it is appropriate for all Christians to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on the same day.
POPE FRANCIS
I renew my appeal that this coincidence may serve as an appeal to all Christians to take a decisive step forward towards unity around a common date for Easter. The Catholic Church is open to accepting the date that everyone wants: a date of unity.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity came to an end with the recitation of the vespers.
