” “The IX meeting of the Ecumenical Council of the Churches will open tomorrow in Porto Alegre, in the presence of over 700 official delegates, representing 340 churches (Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox Churches), which are members of the Ecumenical Council of the Churches. The organisation is based in Geneva and brings together the churches of 100 countries, representing 550 million Christians. The Brazilian event will end on February 23rd and will be focussed on “Change the world, oh God, in your grace". It will be held at the premises of the Papal Catholic University of Porto Alegre, which has already hosted some important international meetings in the past, such as the Social Forum. The Ecumenical Assembly will be attended, as well as by the official guests, by thousands of people, simple visitors, groups of young people and members of ecumenical organisations. The President of Brazil, Lula, is expected to come on February 17th. The Patriarchate of Moscow sent a release, informing it will take part in the Porto Alegre meeting with a delegation of 21 members, headed by the bishop Hilarion Alfeyev of Vienna and Austria, while the metropolitam bishop Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad will atted the opening ceremony. (to be continued) ” “” “
