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World Council of Churches
Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
The Executive Committee of the Joint
Working Group between the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of
Churches (WCC) met online on 6 July under the leadership of His
Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nifon of Târgoviște, Romanian
Orthodox Church, and Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Catholic Archbishop of
Dublin and Primate of Ireland.
WCC interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan
Sauca attended the first session of the meeting, which started with an
exchange on how different ecclesial contexts are facing the current
crisis caused by the coronavirus. Participants acknowledged that the
worldwide precautionary measures and ordinances during the lockdown had
created a kind of ecumenical solidarity, with churches around the globe
experiencing the same challenge of finding new ways to worship and to
carry on their missionary and pastoral work.
The group then discussed the final stages of two
studies with recommendations to the churches on “Peacebuilding in
Situations of Conflict” and “Migrants and Refugees – Ecumenical
Challenges and Opportunities.” Participants acknowledged the global
relevance of both topics while at the same time confirming the need for
the contextualization of both texts in light of the new situation caused
by the pandemic.
Given the postponement of the WCC 11th Assembly to
2022 and the related extension of the current mandate of the Joint
Working Group, the group reviewed the timetable of future meetings, with
the next one to be held online in November 2020, and a plenary planned
for spring 2021.
