General Secretary Anne Burghardt and LWF Youth delegation represent Lutherans at Taizé ecumenical event
(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt joined Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, alongside a host of other Christian leaders and young people for a prayer vigil on 30 September in St Peter’s Square in Rome.
The event, organized by the Taizé community, together with the Vatican and a committee of ecumenical youth leaders, was held ahead of a Synod of Roman Catholic bishops from around the globe, who are meeting from 4 to 29 October to discuss reforming the Church. The Synod process, which began in 2021 and will continue through 2024, is seen as a hallmark of Pope Francis’ pontificate.
Commenting on the process, Burghardt said: “I deeply appreciate the intention to listen to different voices in the church and to include more voices from lay people, from women, from marginalized groups. I am also very appreciative of the ecumenical openness of the whole process. This Synod truly aims at making the voice of ordinary Christians audible today.”