Reflections on life, meaning and purpose

Ecumenical Gathering at the Vatican a ‘Little Assisi’

Franco Origlia
From left, Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II, head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the head of the Anglican Communion, attend the 30th World Day of Prayer for Peace on Sept. 20, 2016 in Assisi, Italy. Patriarch Bartholomew and Welby will join the Pope Sept. 30 for an ecumenical prayer vigil on the threshold of the Synod on Synodality, which will begin Oct. 4 at the Vatican.

COMMENTARY: Three points are worthy of note as the heads of the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church and Anglican Communion come together to pray ahead of the Synod on Synodality.