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The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Roman Catholic Church will hold a joint ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation on 31 October in Lund, Sweden.
Pope Francis, LWF President Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan and LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge will lead the ecumenical commemoration in cooperation with the Church of Sweden and the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm.
The event, which will highlight the ecumenical developments between Catholics and Lutherans and the joint gifts received through dialogue, is taking place in anticipation of the 500th Reformation anniversary in 2017. It will include a common worship based on the recently published Catholic-Lutheran “Common Prayer” liturgical guide.
“The LWF is approaching the Reformation anniversary in a spirit of ecumenical accountability,” said Junge. “I’m carried by the profound conviction that by working towards reconciliation between Lutherans and Catholics, we are working towards justice, peace and reconciliation in a world torn apart by conflict and violence.”
Cardinal Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity explained further: “By concentrating together on the centrality of the question of God and on a Christocentric approach, Lutherans and Catholics will have the possibility of an ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation, not simply in a pragmatic way, but in the deep sense of faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ.”
Vatican Radio feature: Pope Francis to travel to Sweden for joint Reformation commemoration
An interview with Rev. Dr. Martin Junge and Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan about the joint commemoration
