Pope Leo XIV praises new Charta Oecumenica as cornerstone of European ecumenism, urging Churches to listen and proclaim Gospel amid migration, war.
Newsroom (06/11/2025, Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV on Thursday praised the newly signed Charta Oecumenica as a vital testament to the shared ecumenical path of Europe’s Christian Churches, urging bishops from diverse denominations to deepen mutual listening to proclaim the Gospel more effectively amid contemporary challenges.
The pontiff addressed members of the Joint Committee representing the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) during a papal audience at the Vatican. The meeting followed the document’s signing the previous day at Rome’s Abbey of the Three Fountains by representatives of Christian communities across the continent.
Marking the 25th anniversary of the original Ecumenical Charter, the updated Charta Oecumenica serves as a foundational guide for ecumenical collaboration in Europe. In his remarks, Pope Leo XIV emphasized its role in adapting to an evolving landscape, where new generations have emerged alongside migrants from afar, enriching the continent with diverse histories and cultural traditions.
“While there are indeed positive and encouraging signs of growth in some parts of Europe, at the same time many Christian communities sense themselves increasingly to be in a minority,” the Pope observed. He called on Churches to attentively heed these “new voices and stories” to foster dialogue and fraternity in a world marred by “the din of violence and war.”
Highlighting the indispensable role of divine grace, the Pope declared: “In all these situations, the grace, mercy, and peace of the Lord are indeed vital, for only divine help will show us the most convincing way to proclaim Christ in these most challenging contexts.”
He described the Charta as evidence of European Churches’ commitment to viewing history “through the eyes of Christ,” guided by the Holy Spirit to reflect on joint successes and shortcomings in Gospel proclamation. “The Charta not only suggests methods but also insists on companions for the journey and possible ways forward,” he said, exhorting openness to the Spirit’s “promptings and surprises.”
Drawing parallels between the Catholic Church’s ecumenical and synodal paths, Pope Leo XIV commended the revision process for enabling a unified perspective on modern issues and future priorities, anchored in the Gospel’s timeless relevance.
The audience concluded with the Pope announcing his forthcoming pilgrimage to the site of the 325 Council of Nicaea, where he will join leaders from other Christian traditions in prayer. “It is also my desire, in this Jubilee Year, to proclaim to all the people of Europe that ‘Jesus Christ is our Hope,’ for He is both the path we are to follow, and the ultimate destination of our spiritual journey,” he said.
The Charta Oecumenica’s renewal underscores a concerted push toward greater Christian unity in a fragmented Europe, building on decades of dialogue to address secularization, migration, and global conflicts.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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