On 23 January, a conference to present the project was held with several speakers: Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg; Brother Alois, Prior of Taizé; Archbishop Ian Ernest, Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome; Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the Holy See (Catolicosate of Etchmiadzin); and Pastor Christian Krieger, President of the Conference of European Churches and the French Protestant Federation.
The recording of the press conference is available here:
Words of Pastor Christian Krieger, President of the Conference of European Churches and the French Protestant Federation:
“I would like to tell you how grateful I am to take part in this Press Conference and greet His Eminence Cardinal Hollerich and Brother Alois. I would also say my gratitude for the synodal path, and for the fact that other churches are invited to give their contribution.
The synod is becoming a moment of great importance, perhaps a turning point, which will mark the history of the Church, that of the Catholic Church of course, but also that of the Church as a whole and the ecumenical movement.
I’m delighted to participate in this press conference and so express that the Conference of European Churches is very sensitive to the way the Pope has sought to involve the other Churches in the process, sensitive to the attention he has paid to the ecumenical dimension of the synodal process. The Pope expressed a truth when he says that ecumenism is necessary for the synodal process just as synodality is necessary for ecumenism.
As a pastor of a Reformed Church, of a synodal presbyteral church, I believe and know that a synodal process has a performative character. That is to say, whatever decisions are taken at the end, the synodal process marks a church, it transforms those who participate in it. One does not enter into an attitude of listening, exchanging and debating without being transformed by it. The synodal process is precisely a place where I believe and experience the action of the Spirit of God.
I believe that it is perhaps a first in the history of ecumenism, that the other Churches pray for a particular Church, at such a particular moment in its history. It is with gratitude that I respond to the invitation to join this time to participate in the writing of this new step, a new step in conversion to the unity of the body of Christ.
For all these reasons, I’m delighted to participate in the meetings and the prayer organized in the context of “Together | Gathering of the people of God”. It will be a way to express the interest that French Protestantism and the ecumenical movement have in the synodal process, a way to celebrate the spirit of unity already achieved in Christ and to express our deep desire that our unity in Christ will be deepened and more visible.”
