Ecumenical Prayer Service for the Season

at prayer service

To open the Season of Creation, an ecumenical prayer service, “Walking together to COP24,” was held in Assisi.
This event brought together representatives of the Vatican, the World Council of Churches, the Anglican Communion, the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Lutheran World Federation, and many more.
The event highlighted shared Christian love of Creator and all creation. Leaders encouraged action at the political level and symbolically sent the spirit of St. Francis on pilgrimage to COP24, the UN climate talks to be held in Poland this December.
The two-day event was organized into “steps” on the road to care of creation.

First step: Prayer at the Room of Renunciation

Second step: Prayer at the Basilica of St. Clare, Chapel of St. Damian

  • In front of the Crucifix of Saint Damian, eumenical leaders engaged in a contemplative vigil on St. Francis’ mandate and our witness in taking care of Creation.
  • See a recording of the live stream and the photos of the second step.

Third step: Prayer at the Shrine of Renunciation

  • Leaders blessed the start of the pilgrimage from Assisi to Gubbio, now in its 10th anniversary. They reflected on the Path of Francis and our walking together, united in our sincere wish to protect creation and all those who share it.
  • Pilgrims were blessed by Mgr. Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of the Diocese of Assisi–Nocera Umbra –Gualdo Tadino, and Mgr. Luciano Paolucci Bedini, Bishop of the Diocese of Gubbio.
  • Read the text of the pilgrim’s prayer.

Fourth step: Prayer outside the Upper Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

  • Leaders were greeted by
    • Father Mauro Gambetti, Guardian of the Sacred Convent (Read the text)
    • H.E. Card. Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Council of Bishops’ Conference in Europe – CCEE (Read the text)
    • Rev. Christian Krieger, President of the Conference of European Churches – CEC (Read the text)
    • Mrs. Stefania Proietti, Mayor of Assisi. (Read the text)
    • Mrs. Francesca Di Maolo, President of the Seraphic Institute (Read the text)
  • The Season of Creation Declaration 2018 was introduced by Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of Act Alliance
  • Leaders read the joint ecumenical declaration on creation. The declaration highlights St. Francis’s Cantico Laudato si’ mi’ signore and issued a call for unity within the Christian communion in light of the current ecological crisis, inviting all Christians and people of good faith to celebrate Season of Creation and take bold action for climate in COP24.
  • Leaders took the first steps of a symbolic journey from the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi to COP24.
  • See a recording of the live stream of the fourth step.

Additional resources

Read the list of participants.
Find media coverage of the event.
See photos of the third and fourth step and other activities of that day.
Read the prayer booklet of the first and second steps of the prayer.
The prayer booklet includes:

  • opening meditation on the message of renunciation, by Mgr. Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of the Diocese of Assisi–Nocera Umbra–Gualdo Tadino
  • reflection by Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi, Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See, Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome
  • reflection by Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Trone Athenagoras Fasiolo, Ecumenical Patriarchate’s representative
  • reflection by Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation
  • reflection by Rev. Elizabeth Bussmann, Diocesan Environment Officer at Anglican Diocese of Europe
  • reflection by Rev. Henrik Grape, Senior adviser on Care for Creation, Sustainability and Climate Justice of World Council of Churches
  • reflection by Mrs. Maria Elena Lacquaniti, Member of the Commission on Globalization and Environment, Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy
  • reflection by Father Bruno-Marie Duffé, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development