The pontificate of Pope Francis did not result in breakthrough theological agreements with other Christians, but huge strides were made in personal relations and practical cooperation.
Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations
Eastern Catholics help church be fully ‘catholic,’ speakers say
The Eastern Catholic churches are not an “anomaly” or an “ecclesial monstrosity” but are Catholic communities with their own liturgical, theological, spiritual and canonical heritage that help make the church truly catholic, said Maronite Archbishop Michel Jalakh.
King Charles, Queen Camilla hope to meet pope at Vatican in April
Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla confirmed their plans to meet at the Vatican with Pope Francis in early April in an announcement March 18.
St. John Paul II hailed as model for Catholics to fight rising scourge of antisemitism
St. John Paul II’s example as a strong bridge-builder between Catholicism and Judaism should be used against enduring antisemitism, especially in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to a theologian who wrote a two-volume biography of one of the longest serving popes.
Christians, Muslims can proclaim beauty of diversity, Vatican says
In a world where people are tempted to build walls to exclude others, Christians and Muslims are challenged to build, through dialogue, a shared future based on fraternity, leaders of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue said in a message to Muslims around the world.
Meet the Sister of Charity making sure Catholics ‘never forget’ the Holocaust
The third floor of the administration building at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa., houses the National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education.
Pope: Nicene Creed unites Christians, overcoming division through faith
The Nicene Creed is more than a statement of faith — it is a powerful sign of unity among Christians, Pope Francis said as he welcomed young priests and monks from Oriental Orthodox Churches to the Vatican.
‘God suffered a great deal in every single person’ who was in Auschwitz, cardinal says
“God did not create Auschwitz, God created man,” said Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Lodz after the Jan. 27 commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazis’ biggest death camp: Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim, Poland.
Bishops across Europe remember Holocaust victims, urge world to fight rising antisemitism
Church leaders across Europe marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp with calls to remember German Nazi-inflicted sufferings and to counter a new rise in antisemitism and extremism.
Holocaust cannot be forgotten or denied, pope says
After reciting the Angelus prayer Jan. 26 with visitors in St. Peter’s Square, the pope drew their attention to the following day’s commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Episcopal bishop pushes Trump on immigration at inaugural interfaith prayer service
Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington raised some concerns Jan. 21 over policies being advanced by the new Trump administration, asking President Donald Trump at an event where he was in attendance to show “mercy” to migrants and refugees coming to the U.S. for a better life.
Rome rabbi accuses pope of ‘selective indignation’ about Gaza
The chief rabbi of Rome said Christian-Jewish dialogue has been a victim of the war unleashed with the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.