On 30 September 2023, an ecumenical prayer vigil will take place in Rome in the presence of Pope Francis and representatives of different Churches, to unite us in praise and silence, in listening to the Word.

The announcement by Pope Francis

On January 15 after the Angelus on St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis made the following invitation: “The path to Christian unity and the path of synodal conversion of the Church are linked. I would like to take this opportunity to say that on Saturday 30 September, an ecumenical prayer vigil will be held on St. Peter's Square, with which we will entrust to God the work of the 16^th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. For the young people coming to the vigil, there will be a special programme throughout that weekend, led by the Taizé community. As of now, I invite brothers and sisters of all Christian denominations to participate in this "Gathering of the People of God.”

The “Together” project in brief

Young people aged 18 to 35 from different European countries and from all Christian traditions have been invited to come to Rome from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon for a weekend of sharing. They will be hosted by the parishes and communities of Rome and stay with local people. For young Catholics, this event can be experienced as a follow-up to the World Youth Day which took place in Lisbon at the beginning of August.

At the heart of this weekend of sharing will be an ecumenical prayer vigil in Rome on 30 September 2023, in the presence of Pope Francis and representatives of various churches. Open to all the People of God, this prayer together will include listening to the Word of God, praise and intercession, Taizé songs and silence - a strong sign of fellowship, unity and peace.

The ecumenical prayer vigil will be held on the eve of the 16^th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will have as its theme: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission” and will take place from 4 to 29 October 2023. As Pope Francis said in his announcement of 15 January 2023, this vigil is part of a synodal and ecumenical journey: “The path of Christian unity and the path of the synodal conversion of the Church are linked.”

The meaning of the gathering

Within the framework of the synodal process of the Catholic Church, this “Gathering of the People of God” aims to demonstrate the desire to increase the visible unity of “journeying” Christians. Here is an excerpt from the presentation of the project published on the website www.together2023.net:

“Is it not Christ who calls us and opens a way for us to go forward with him as fellow travellers, together with those who live on the margins of our societies? On this journey, in a dialogue that reconciles, we want to remember that we need each other, not so that we might be stronger together but as a contribution to peace in the human family. In gratitude for this growing sense of communion, we can find the momentum needed to meet today's challenges faced with the polarisations that fracture the human family and the cry of the earth. In encounter and mutual listening, let us walk together as the people of God.”