Plenary Meeting of the Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches

Rome, 1–3 September 2025 

 It was an unique experience and consider it as a blessing to be with the “The Joint Working Group” (JWG) between the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Catholic Church held its second plenary meeting of the current mandate (2023-2030), in Rome from 1 to 3 September 2025 at the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU), Rome. The meeting gathered 22 members of the Group – 11 from each parent body – representing diverse regions such as from VATICAN CITY, CANADA, BEYROUTH- LIBAN, USA, ITALIA, GUATEMALA, SWITZERLAND, DENMARK, KOREA, GERMANY, GREECE, CAYMAN ISLANDS, RWANDA, RUSSIA, NEW ZEALAND and INDIA.

 The Co-Moderators — Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (Armenian Apostolic Church) and Bishop Thomas Dowd (Catholic Church) — guided the work of the plenary. Established in 1965, the JWG this year celebrates its 60th anniversary, continuing its mission of fostering trust, dialogue, and cooperation between the Catholic Church and the member churches of the WCC. 

The opening sessions offered participants an opportunity to share the challenges faced by their local churches, to reflect together on the situation of Christianity in today’s world and to provide an update on the life of each partner. 

On behalf of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the DPCU, underlined four main points. First, he highlighted the ecumenical engagement of Pope Leo XIV, who since the beginning of his pontificate has placed Christian unity at the heart of his ministry. Second, he reflected on the significance of the Jubilee Year 2025, celebrated under the theme Pilgrims of Hope and coinciding with the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. Third, he noted several current challenges facing the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the wider ecumenical movement, including ecclesiological differences, the fragmentation of Christian witness in an increasingly secular world, and the emergence of new independent communities.

From the WCC, Rev. Prof. Dr Kuzipa Nalwamba (WCC Programme Director for Unity, Mission, and Ecumenical Formation) emphasized the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity expressed in recent fellowship-wide engagements.

Prof. Dr Andrej Jeftić updated the group on the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order, themed Where Now for Christian Unity?, which is to be held in October 2025 in Wadi El-Natrun, Egypt. The conference’s broader backdrop is the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. Part of its preparation has been a series of webinars, such as The Bishop of Rome and Christian Unity, jointly organized with the DPCU.

Special sessions were dedicated to presenting the mission and work of several Dicasteries of the Roman Curia in the service of the Church’s mission such as  Secretariat of State; Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development;  Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue; Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and to dialogue with leaders of Catholic ecumenical centres in Rome (Centro Pro Unione, Centro Uno, Sant’Egidio, and Oecumenicum). 

We were given opportunity to have a guided tour to Vatican Necropolis, guided by my classmate Dr. Taras from Ukrain. It was an unique experiences for the many of us especially for the WCC members.

The plenary assembly devoted substantial time to reviewing the progress of its three study groups and I belong to the third study group. The Final report of it will be published in 2030.

1. Study Group One is focused on exploring diverse understandings of salvation in the context of growing religious indifference. Its work builds on documents from both the World Council of Churches and the Catholic Church, while also integrating relevant sociological data.
2. Study Group Two is examining processes that have been put in place in different contexts worldwide to promote collective reconciliation, in order to offer tools that Christians might use to be agents of such reconciliation.
3. Study Group Three is focused on challenges caused by intolerance and religious fanaticism which endanger millions. Christians face abduction, forced conversion, harassment, restrictions on religious expression, and unjust laws, while believers of other traditions also endure violence, showing that the denial of religious freedom harms all of humanity. The group will look deeper into understandings of persecution and martyrdom, engaging with experiences of churches in various parts of the world and developing ecumenical tools for local churches to respond together in solidarity.

A highlight of the meeting was the gathering with Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, September His Holiness Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the joint work between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches must continue, especially in light of the call to unity in a time when the world is so divided and wounded. 

The plenary concluded with the adoption of plans for the next phase of the JWG’s work, including the continuation of the study groups and preparation of future meetings via online during the year. The next plenary meeting of the JWG will be held in September 2026 at a venue to be determined. 

            As a Daughter of the Church for me, it was a unique privilege to participate in the Joint Working Group with the World Council of Churches. Faithful to the charism of ecumenism entrusted to us by our Foundress, Venerable Maria Oliva Bonaldo of the Mystical Body, who instilled in us a profound love for the Church and for humanity ad its unity. I see this service as a concrete expression of our vocation to foster unity in the Body of Christ and in the human family. In this mission, gratefully remember our Sister Venerable Magdalena Volpato who offered her life for the unity of the Church within our Religious Family, a witness that continues to inspire and guide us.

I am indebted to Cardinal Kurt Kock who nominated me and then Mother General who allowed me to be a part of this Joint Working Group.

Gracy Joseph EF