News
The landmark visit of Pope Francis to the World Council of Churches on 21 June will be a centrepiece of the ecumenical commemoration of the WCC's 70th anniversary.
Theme:
Ecumenical Pilgrimage
Walking, Praying and Working Together
When:
Press Conference I: 15 May at 12:00 CET on the programme of the Pope’s visit with
Cardinal Kurt Koch of the Roman Catholic Church, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches
Rev. Dr Charles Morerod, Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg of the Roman Catholic Church
Moderator: Marianne Ejdersten, WCC director of communication
Press Conference II: 15 May at 1pm CET on security with
Lieutenant-Colonel François Waridel, head of operation of the Geneva Cantonal Police. Mr Waridel will lead the entire police operation during the visit of the Holy Father. He will be accompanied by Major Patrick Puhl, superintendent of the traffic police.
They will mainly talk about the following subjects:
Security measures
- Risk of disturbances in routes and highways in the Canton.
- Parking space for pilgrims
- Presentation of areas that will be closed or will have restricted circulation
- Police information line
- Social media
Where:
Ecumenical Centre, the main hall, Geneva, Switzerland
Resources:
The Press Conference will be livestreamed, in the original languages of the speakers, at www.youtube.com/worldcouncilofchurches/live
Interpretation available in English, Italian, French, Spanish and German on site. Recordings will be shared shortly after the press conference on a best-effort basis.
For more information regarding the visit, please see the WCC website www.oikoumene.org
WCC press release of 2 March 2018: Pope Francis to visit the World Council of Churches this summer
Information on the visit from the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg
https://www.diocese-lgf.ch/pape-geneve.html
For the public:
More information will be published in the end of May.
For media:
Media accreditation for the events of 21 June will open on 15 May 2018. You will find all the information online at: https://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre
Contact: [email protected]
Media contacts
Media accreditation for 15 May, please respond by email to [email protected] at the latest 14 May.
Download media accreditation application form (.docx)
For accreditation on 21 June (accreditation open on 15 May 2018):
WCC Communication Department +41 22 791 6704
Questions regarding the programme:
The Ecumenical Pilgrimage to the World Council of Churches
WCC director of communication Marianne Ejdersten; e-mail: [email protected], mobile phone: +41 79 507 63 63
WCC media coordinator: Claus Grue, email: [email protected], mobile phone: +46 70 611 09 77
WCC photo coordinator: Albin Hillert, email: [email protected], mobile phone: +46 73 070 11 08
Vatican Press Office for more information: http://w2.vatican.va/content/vatican/it.html
The Holy Mass at Palexpo
Laure-Christine Grandjean, head of communication in the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, mobile phone: +41 (0)79 211 45 48 e-mail [email protected]
The arrival to Switzerland and welcome by federal authorities
The Confederation: Linda Shepard, Communication officer, FDFA Information, mobile:
+ 41 (0)79 544 48 16
About the Swiss Confederation
The Swiss Federal Presidency:
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-presidency/tasks-federal-presidency.html
Regarding security
Cap. Jean-Philippe Brandt, Communication Officer, Phone +41 (0)22 427 56 00 Mobile phone +41 (0)79 941 54 59
The 70th anniversary of the World Council of Churches in 2018 is an opportunity to mark the achievements of the past 70 years in working for Christian unity and action, and to look to the challenges ahead as a fellowship of churches responding to God’s call for unity, mission, justice and peace. This event is part of a series of anniversary celebrations taking place in various locations throughout the year.
