Archbishop Grušas: Pray for peace during Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Archbishop Gintaras Grušas, President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), is calling for prayers for peace in our war-torn world, following the signing of the updated Charta Oecumenica that took place in Rome on 5 November 2025.

The Archbishop of Vilnius has relaunched the reception phase of the Charta in Europe by issuing a heartfelt appeal to the Presidents of the European Catholic Bishops’ Conferences to focus on this special prayer intention, stressing that “this unity among the Baptised in Christ is a powerful instrument of peace throughout the world.”

In his letter to all the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences across Europe, Archbishop Grusas underscored, “Prayer remains ‘the soul of the whole ecumenical movement’ (UR, 8), and it finds an especially strong expression during the annual octave of prayer for Christian unity.”  

He stressed that the Churches “are called to renew a strong common appeal to pray for peace, especially amid ongoing threats against peace, shaped by persistent armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions in many regions of the world,” especially ahead of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the original Charta Oecumenica which took place in Strasbourg on 22 April 2001.

The Archbishop prayed “that this unity may be achieved not only among Christians but also among all parties in conflict with one another, and that peace may be rebuilt.”

“This common prayer and the reception of the updated Charta Oecumenica,” the CCEE President recalled, “are entrusted to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Europe, and of the Patron Saints of Europe.”

The revised Charta Oecumenica marks a significant milestone in the ecumenical journey of the Churches in Europe. 25 years on, the Charta remains a key reference document for fostering cooperation, dialogue, and common witness among Christian Churches across the continent.

The revision of the Charta was undertaken by a working group mandated by the Joint Committee of the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC).

Christian Churches are now called to engage in a deep and fruitful reception of the updated Charta Oecumenica, including renewed efforts in ecumenical dialogue, common prayer, shared witness, and formation within their respective contexts.