Pope Leo XIV receives European Christian leaders after signing of new Ecumenical Charter Pope Leo XIV received in a Nov. 6 audience the members of the Council of European Bishops\u2019 Conferences (CCEE, by its Spanish acronym), the Ecumenical Council of Churches (CEC), and the representatives of the Christian Churches of Europe, who met in Rome to sign the updated \u201cCharta \u0152cumenica.\u201d Signed in 2001 by the presidents of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the CCEE, the Ecumenical Charter has been the cornerstone of European ecumenical cooperation for more than two decades. The revised version seeks to address contemporary challenges and reflect the changing realities of European society and Christianity. The revision process, initiated in 2022, was led by a joint working group of the CEC and the CCEE. To this end, input from churches and ecumenical organizations throughout Europe was considered for the purpose of ensuring that the updated text responds to current ecumenical needs. The updated version was signed on Nov. 5 by Archbishop Gintaras Gru\u0161as of Vilnius, Lithuania, the president of the CCEE, and by Greek Orthodox Archbishop Nikitas Loulias of Thyateira and Great Britain. Challenges on the ecumenical journey During the meeting at the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father emphasized that \u201cthe challenges Christians face on the ecumenical journey are constantly evolving,\u201d and for this reason, it has been necessary to reexamine the situation in Europe. Loulias, president of the CEC, explained to ACI Prensa, CNA\u2019s Spanish-language news partner, after the audience with the Holy Father that \u201cthe world has changed\u201d and that the realities of 25 years ago are not the same as those of today. \u201cNow there is the problem of migration, and how to treat migrants and the laws related to it. Also, how to confront nationalism, populism, ideas based on prejudice and hate, and what we, as Christians, preach: peace,\u201d he emphasized. The pope also noted in his address the importance of \u201cconstant and careful\u201d discernment while lamenting that many Christian communities in Europe \u201cfeel increasingly like a minority.\u201d In this context, he recalled that new peoples are arriving in Europe that must be welcomed and listened to, promoting dialogue, harmony, and fraternity, particularly \u201camid the clamor of violence and war, whose echoes resound throughout the continent.\u201d \u201cIn all these situations,\u201d the pope continued, \u201cthe grace, mercy, and peace of the Lord are truly vital, because only divine help will show us the most convincing way to proclaim Christ in these changing contexts.\u201d The pontiff referred to the ecumenical document as a \u201ctestimony to the willingness of the Churches of Europe to look at our history with the eyes of Christ\u201d and noted that \u201cthe synodal path is ecumenical, just as the ecumenical path is synodal.\u201d In this regard, he emphasized that the new Ecumenical Charter \u201chighlights the common path undertaken by Christians of different traditions in Europe, capable of listening to one another and discerning together in order to proclaim the Gospel more effectively.\u201d Sharing a common vision Furthermore, Pope Leo highlighted that one of the most remarkable achievements of the review process has been \u201cthe ability to share a common vision on contemporary challenges and to establish priorities for the future of the continent while maintaining a firm conviction in the enduring relevance of the Gospel.\u201d In this regard, Loulias commented to ACI Prensa on the progress made on the path of ecumenism, emphasizing that \u201ca hundred years ago, we didn\u2019t even speak to each other.\u201d Although he acknowledged that challenges and problems still exist, especially due to language differences, he noted that this update \u201chas allowed us to come together, cooperate, work together, respect one another, exchange thoughts and ideas, and recognize the values \u200b\u200bwe share.\u201d At the end of his address, the Holy Father also expressed his desire to proclaim to all the peoples of Europe that \u201cJesus Christ is our hope, because he is both the path we must follow and the ultimate destination of our spiritual pilgrimage.\u201d Loulias referred to Pope Leo XIV as \u201ca very humble, very thoughtful, and very kind man. We discussed various topics, and of course, I asked him to pray for peace during our private conversation.\u201d \u201cAs an Orthodox Christian and as a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, I am proud to have been part of this process. Now the pope is preparing to travel to Istanbul to meet with the ecumenical patriarch [Bartholomew I]; these are significant signs of what is happening,\u201d he said. This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA\u2019s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp Almudena Mart\u00ednez-Bordi\u00fa Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter. 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