Ecumenical and International Vigil

60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome

Rome, 25 March 2017,

On 24 March 2017, on the eve of the anniversary, it was an occasion for politicians, leaders of various Churches and many Christian people to meet in the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles in Rome for an ecumenical and international Vigil, promoted by the network Together for Europe. The challenges: how to shape an authentic European-Christian humanism? How can we make faith more open to culture?

At the Vigil, presided over by Card. Kurt Koch, 800 people from 23 Movements and Communities participated. Among those present, there were bishops, representatives of various Churches, parliamentarians – including the future President of the European Parliament, Davide Sassoli. The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, wished to convey to all the participants “feelings of ideal participation, in the conviction that moments of encounter such as this one give an important sign of hope, which is necessary to build a united and solidarity-based Europe.”

Some impressions of the evening: “We need more Europe!”; “God throughout history has entrusted a mission to this Continent: the combination of heaven and earth, the combination of faith and its impact on the world!”; “Christian values are European values and vice versa. The culture of dialogue, tolerance, openness, fraternity can be lived beyond confession and religion, beyond any creed. The Vigil will serve to reawaken these great values.”

Similar prayer vigils were held with solemnity in 56 other European cities.

Click here to watch the full video of the evening>>

Click here to watch also the interviews during the event (playlist)>>