From January 18-25, the Catholic Church joins other Christian Churches for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We do so inspired by Our Lord, who prayed to His Heavenly Father that those who believe in Him “may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you" (John 17:21). 

The sources of division among Christians are many, complex and often centuries old. They are also contrary to the mind of Christ and an obstacle to the Church’s primary mission of evangelization. More powerful than what divides us, however, is what unites us as brothers and sisters in Christ, including our faith in Jesus, the wisdom of the Word of God, the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit and the grace of a common Baptism. 

During this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, I invite all Catholics to promote harmony by our dialogue and cooperation with Christians of other denominations and through the spiritual practices of prayer and penance. Through God’s grace, may we achieve greater communion in our Church and in our world.