Vatican City (Fides Service) - The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is held from January 18 to 25 January the feast of the Conversion of St Paul the apostle of the nations. In recent decades in Rome it became a tradition for the Pope to preside an ecumenical celebration of Vespers on the last day of this special week at the ancient Basilica of St Paul’s outside the walls, built not far from where Saint Paul was martyred for his faith and where he is buried. This year John Paul II has asked Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the promotion of Christian unity to represent him at the service.
At St Paul’s the week for unity is always marked with special fervour and this year the Benedictine community which has served the Basilica for over 1,300 years, and now comprises monks from all over the world, has arranged ecumenical Vespers animated by different communities every evening at 5pm as follows: priests and nuns of the Madonna del Divino Amore (18 January); Rome’s Anglican parish of All Saints (19 January); Comboni Missionaries (20 January); Pontifical College of St Bede (Rome) (21 January); Pauline Family (22 January); Orthodox brothers (23 January), 1st Vespers presided by the Abbot of St Paul’s Paolo Lunardon OSB (24 January) ; (25 January) solemn Mass at 10.30, presided by the Benedictine Abbot Prior, Abbot Notker Wolf OSB and evening Vespers 5.30 presided on behalf of Pope John Paul II by Cardinal Walter Kasper. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 19/1/2005 - Righe 18; Parole 244)