By Sunny A. David, Awka
The plenary session of the Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches (WCC) concluded on 3 September in Rome, with participants emphasizing dialogue, collaboration, and shared priorities for the years ahead.
Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, told Vatican News that the session gave members—particularly WCC representatives—an opportunity to better understand the work of the Roman Curia. Instead of visiting dicasteries individually, participants joined in small groups with curial officials for presentations and open discussions. The initiative, Pace explained, highlighted the Curia’s spirit of “listening, interaction, and walking together.”
The group also heard from Cardinal Kurt Koch on the challenges facing Christian unity today, before resuming its work in three mixed subcommissions of Catholic and WCC members. These teams will prepare a joint document at the end of the group’s mandate, which runs until 2030.
The highlight of the gathering was an audience with Pope Leo XIV. Initially planned as a short greeting and photo session, the encounter turned into a more personal exchange. The Pope spoke individually with participants, inquired about their backgrounds, and offered words of encouragement.
He stressed the importance of continuing the joint mission for unity, especially at a time when the world is “deeply divided and wounded.” He reminded them that Christian witness must be a sign of communion, and invited everyone to pray the Our Father together, underscoring that true unity is rooted in Christ.
The meeting concluded with the Pope’s blessing, leaving participants encouraged and renewed in their commitment to ecumenical dialogue.