The students met Pope Francis on 22 January during a general audience and will meet him again on 25 January at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is being observed 18-25 January under the theme: “Do you believe this?”
On 26 January, students will again meet Pope Francis for the celebration of the Mass of the Sunday of the Word of God.
Dicasteries the students are visiting include the Dicastery for promoting Christian Unity; Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue; Dicastery for Oriental Churches; Dicastery for Evangelization; Dicastery for Communication; and the Dicastery for Integral Human Development and the Secretariat of the Synod.
“As in past years, the 2024-2025 students at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey embarked on a remarkable study visit to Rome and Vatican City, where they were immersed in a blend of historical richness and cultural splendor,” said Fr Dr Lawrence Iwuamadi, professor at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute. “The trip was a deep dive into art, history, and theology.”
Their visit included guided tours of iconic landmarks such as the St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Necropolis, catacombs, and other papal basilicas. “Engaging with experts and scholars of different dicasteries of the Vatican such as the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity that hosted the visit, the students enriched their understanding and appreciation of Roman Catholic Church’s commitment to ecumenism,” said Iwuamadi. “I think this visit was more than educational; it was a profound experience that left a lasting impact on their academic and personal growth.”
Rev. Prof. Dr Benjamin Simon, dean of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey and director of the WCC Commission on Ecumenical Education and Formation, said that the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey is extremely grateful to the Vatican for its annual invitation to Rome. “It is an unforgettable privilege for our students to have this experience,” he said.
In Rome, Bossey students share common Christian witness (WCC news release, 22 January 2025)