Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - From 24-27 January 2006, 150 delegates from Europe’s churches, Bishops’ Conferences, ecumenical bodies, communities and movements will gather in Rome for the start of the process of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) organised by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC). The Assembly theme is The light of Christ shines upon all. Hope for renewal and unity in Europe.
Along new lines, the EEA3 follows the tradition of the European Ecumenical Assemblies held at Basle (1989) and Graz (1997). The novelty of this Assembly lies in the fact that it is not just a one-off event but a process. Through four stages, the EEA3 aims at being a type of symbolic pilgrimage encountering the richness of different Christian traditions and rediscovering Europe’s Christian roots: The first and third stages will take place in Rome (24-27 January 2006) and Wittenberg-Lutherstadt, Germany (15-18 February 2007) respectively. They will bring together 150 delegates from churches, Bishops’ Conferences, ecumenical bodies, communities and movements. The second stage will consist of national and/or regional meetings throughout Europe in the second half of 2006 or at the start of 2007. Finally, the Assembly itself, which will take place in Sibiu, Romania (4-8 September 2007) with the participation of 3000 delegates. At the same time, meetings will be held in European cities wherever possible.
Significant events during the first stage of the process include participation at Vespers in the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (25 January), presided over by Pope Benedict XVI, and a meeting with the Holy Father. The ecumenical meeting will be opened on 24 January 15:00 with addresses by Bishop Amédée Grab, CCEE President, Pastor Jean-Arnold de Clermont, CEC President, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), Prof. Gianni Long, President of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI) and a representative of the Orthodox Church. The meeting will continue with a number of thematic sessions: 24 January 5pm: The Ecumenical situation in Europe. 25 January 9am: Signs of Christ’s light in Europe. 25January 11am: AEE3 themes and objectives. 26 January 9am: The AEE3 process and national/regional meetings. 26 January 11am: AEE3 themes. The meeting will also be broadcast live on the official web site of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (www.eea3.org). (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/1/2006, righe 28, parole 379)
