Conference of the International Society of Jesuit Ecumenists, July 2017.

Jesuits from Sweden, United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and Slovakia, gathered with others from Asia, the Middle East, and North America at Centro Ad Gentes in the Roman hills for the 24th Conference of the International Society of Jesuit Ecumenists.   This informal group of Jesuits working in all sectors of Jesuit ministry gathers ever two years for a week of discussion and sharing information about the work of rebuilding Christian unity through fostering friendship and practical cooperation between Christians.   

In this 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, this year’s conference focused not only on the split in Western Christianity, but also relations between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches following the troubled Pan-Orthodox Council held in Crete in 2016, the current situation of Middle Eastern Christians.  The topics discussed included theological discussions but also the pastoral realities of Catholics living with other Christians in a range of situations ranging from Sweden to Japan, Russia and South India.

At the same time that Christianity appears to be on the wane in many sectors of Europe, it continues to grow and give birth to new forms of life and action, in Africa, India and China. Traditionally Catholic countries in Latin America have seen a rapid rise in conversations to Pentecostalism and Evangelical Christiantiy.  Along with Pope Francis’ encouragement of local pastoral and social cooperation, all these factors mean that the search for Christian unity is an urgent and rapidly shifting reality, in which Jesuits will need to continue to contribute and collaborate.

The 25th Anniversary Conference of the International Society of Jesuit Ecumenists will take place in Ireland in July 2019. For information and updates, contact Tom Layden SJ, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..