Today is the second day of the Roman work for the 150 delegates from all European countries in preparation to the Third European Ecumenical Assembly of Sibiu (4-8 September 2007). They represent about 40 Churches, 34 Bishops Conferences and 50 Confederations, Alliances, ecumenical bodies, movements and associations dealing with ecumenical dialogue. This morning, the meeting began with a prayer and a biblical meditation by H.E. Armen Zakarian, from the Armenian Apostolic Church. The work will start with a session chaired by Maria Brohm-Draaijers, president of the European Forum of the National Councils of Lay Associations about “Signs of the light of Christ in Europe”. It will be a review of the ongoing ecumenical experiences: it will be about the martyrs of the XX century, the ecumenical twinships between parishes and the European meeting in Stuttgart, promoted by the Focolari movement. The floor will also be taken by Father Alois, prior of the community of Taizé and Father Roger’s successor, who will tell the delegates about the experience of Milan with the European Youth Meeting. Still in the morning, the Ecumenical Assembly of Sibiu will be the real focus, and subjects and goals will begin to be identified by cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, archbishop of Westminster, and by metropolitan bishop Daniel of Moldavia and Bucovina. In the afternoon, the delegates will go on a pilgrimage in memory of the apostle Paul: after visiting the Three Fountains, they will go to the Basilica of Saint Paul Fuori le Mura to attend the Vespers celebrated by Benedict XVI to mark the end of the Week of Prayer for the Unity of Christians.
