pope Francis Encourages Unity at Ecumenical Stockholm Week

Vatican City – Pope francis has sent a message of encouragement to participants in the Ecumenical Stockholm Week,‍ highlighting the importance of continued dialog and collaboration among Christian ⁤denominations. The message, released ‍August 22,⁤ 2025, underscores the Catholic Church’s commitment to ‌the pursuit of christian unity.

The Pope’s message referenced key ‌moments in ecumenical history, including the first papal visit to Sweden in 1989 by Pope john Paul II. During that visit,Pope John Paul II was welcomed⁢ at Uppsala Cathedral by Archbishop Bertil Werkström,the head of the Church of Sweden.The pope described this event ‍as marking “a new chapter in⁤ Catholic and Lutheran relations.”

He also recalled the ⁣joint prayer and repentance service held in Lund, Sweden, in 2016,⁢ where Pope Francis and Lutheran⁣ leaders‍ commemorated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. ‍”There, we affirmed our‍ shared path from conflict to communion,” the Pope ⁤stated.

Pope Francis expressed his