Together - Gathering of the People of God
An ecumenical prayer vigil
Rome - 30 September 2023
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What is “Together”?
On 30 September 2023, an ecumenical prayer vigil will take place in Rome in the presence of Pope Francis and representatives of different Churches, to unite us in praise and silence, in listening to the Word. Young people aged between 18 and 35 from across Europe, from all Church backgrounds, are invited from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon and will be welcomed for a weekend of sharing, to journey together as the people of God.
Message from Pope Francis
On Sunday 15 January in Rome, at the end of the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis announced that the work of the next assembly of the Synod of the Roman Catholic Church will be preceded by an ecumenical prayer vigil on Saturday 30 September on St Peter’s Square, Rome:
„The path to Christian unity and the path of synodal conversion of the Church are linked. I would like to take this opportunity to announce that on Saturday 30 September, an ecumenical prayer vigil will be held on St. Peter’s Square, with which we will entrust the work of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. For the young people coming to the vigil, there will be a special programme throughout that weekend, entrusted to the Taizé community. As of now, I invite brothers and sisters of all Christian denominations to participate in this „Gathering of the People of God.”
"It is a joy to be here because when something happens in a Church, we must rejoice with it; this synod of the Catholic Church is very important"
Serge Sollogoub
Archpriest of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in France
"The accompaniment of the Taizé brothers has been going on since the beginning of the Synod because a journey of unity and prayer is linked to this Synod"
Sr Nathalie Becquart, xmcj
General Secretariat of the Synod
"Taizé is a place for listening to the Holy Spirit; we talk a lot in the Church, but here I come to listen, to discern what we should do together. The process of the synod is also a process of listening"
Karin Johannesson
bishop of the Lutheran Church of Sweden