The Holy See Press Office presented at a press conference the initiative Together - Meeting of the People of God and the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil that Pope Francis will preside over in St. Peter's Square on September 30, on the eve of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission".
In the course of the conference - animated by the interventions of Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See, President of the Commission for Information of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops; Sister Nathalie Becquart, X.M.C.J., Undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod and Brother Mateo of the Taizé Community-presented some updates on the XVI General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place from October 4-29, 2023.
The initiative Together | "Meeting of the People of God" is realized with the collaboration of more than fifty ecclesial realities (churches and ecclesial federations, communities and movements, youth pastoral services), from all confessional backgrounds involved at the initiative of the Taizé Community and in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Synod of Rome, the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and the Vicariate of Rome. The list of participating partners is regularly updated on the event's website: www.together2023.net.
Young people from 18 to 35 years of age from different European countries and from all Christian traditions are invited to come to Rome from the afternoon of Friday, September 29 to the afternoon of Sunday, October 1 for a weekend of sharing.
At the heart of this weekend of sharing, an ecumenical prayer vigil will be held in Rome on September 30 in the presence of Pope Francis and representatives of various Churches.
As of September 4, more than 3,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 had registered to participate. Among the most represented European countries are: Poland (470), France (400), Spain (280), Hungary (220), Germany (120), Austria (110) and Switzerland (100).
Smaller delegations will come from a total of 43 countries, including Egypt, Vietnam, Korea, the United States and the Dominican Republic. It is still possible to register online at www.together2023.net until September 10. Naturally, many Italians from Rome, Lazio and other regions of Italy will also be present.
As part of the synodal process of the Catholic Church, this "meeting of the people of God" is intended to express the desire to increase the visible unity of Christians "on the way". An excerpt from the presentation of the project published in www.together2023.netBy baptism and the Holy Scriptures, are we not sisters and brothers in Christ, united in a communion that is still imperfect but very real?
Is it not Christ who calls us and opens the way for us to move forward with him as fellow travelers, together with those who live on the margins of our societies? Along the way, in a reconciling dialogue, we want to remember that we need each other, not to be stronger together, but as a contribution to peace in the human family.
In gratitude for this growing communion, we can draw the impetus to face today's challenges in the face of the polarizations that fracture the human family and the cry of the Earth. By meeting and listening to one another, let us journey together as God's people." In October 2021, Brother Alois, prior of Taizé, was invited to speak at the opening of the Synod of Bishops on synodality in Rome. Addressing the participants, he said among other things:
"It seems to me desirable that there should be, on the synodal journey, moments of respite, like pauses, to celebrate the unity already achieved in Christ and to make it visible. (...) Would it be possible that one day, in the course of the synodal process, not only the delegates, but the people of God, not only Catholics, but believers of the various Churches, might be invited to a great ecumenical meeting?"
Together, to walk together and recognize Christ in the diversity of our traditions; 2. Together, to build fraternity with believers of other religions; 3. Together, to welcome one another across borders for a more beautiful and just life; 4. Together, to welcome and value the gift of creation; 5. Together, to reflect on our faith; 6. Together, to reflect on our future; 7. Together, to reflect on our future. 7. Together, to reflect on our faith; 8. 8. Together, to seek the source of communion in God through prayer; 9. 9. Together, to build Europe. 10. Together with the believers of yesterday through prayer. Together, with yesterday's believers, through cultural paths; 11. Together, to build ourselves as persons, as Christians.
"The challenge of this Synod," observed Sr. Nathalie Becquart, X.M.C.J., "is to learn to walk more together, listening to the Spirit, to become a more synodal Church, in order to proclaim the Gospel in today's world." (...)
This perspective has led to the decision to organize an ecumenical prayer vigil on Saturday, September 30, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in St. Peter's Square (...) Open to all the People of God, this ecumenical prayer vigil will highlight two fundamental aspects of the People of God: the centrality of prayer and the importance of dialogue with others to advance together along the paths of fraternity in Christ and unity."
The Vigil will culminate, after a moment of welcome in the square with different choirs and a procession from 5 to 6 pm with thanksgiving and testimonies, in the ecumenical prayer introduced by Pope Francis, with a blessing together with all the Heads of Churches/Christian leaders, addressed to the participants of the Synod.
