RCH published the call on congregations to join the initiative of Pope Francis, supported by ecumenical organisations, to unite in praying the Lord’s Prayer on Wednesday, 25 March, at noon.
“It is my hope that you will join this initiative in which all Christians invoking together the graces from heaven, will ask for the end of this pandemic, trusting in the power of God,” stated Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, in a letter of invitation sent to Heads of Churches and ecumenical organistions, including the WCC, WCRC, CEC and LWF.
"Pope Francis publicly invited the Heads of Churches and the leaders of every Christian community, together with all Christians, to invoke the Almighty, Omnipotent God, by praying the Lord's Prayer simultaneously this coming Wednesday, 25 March ideally at noon Rome time, or noon local time, or at any other convenient time of the day," writes Cardinal Koch.
Ecumenical organisations answered the invitiative overhelmingly positive and called on their member churches to join the prayer.
“We should all understand that we do not do this alone, but with God's help,” said a recent letter from World Communion of Reformed Churches' President Najla Kassab and General Secretary Chris Ferguson to member churches regarding the pandemic. “We must uphold each other in prayer and increase our efforts to be in touch with each other, through strong communications and sharing of challenges and needs—as well as of inspiration.”
"During these times of global uncertainty, we need signs of unity and hope. The prayer that has been taught to us by Christ unites Christianity across space and time. Christians of all countries, and Christians of all times have addressed God with these words which invoke the coming of his reign," reads in the letter signed by General Secretary Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen and PresidentRev. Christian Krieger of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). "The world today calls us to be united. Not only fighting against this devastating pandemic, but also in order to support one another and to feel in communion, remembering to draw lessons from this crisis."
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) also welcomed the invitation and the opportunity for so many people to participate in a united prayer for all of humanity as the world faces the pandemic of COVID-19. “As people across the globe are in their scattered working places at home, we will have the opportunity to unite our voices in praying to God with the words that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us” said Tveit. “At this challenging time, prayerful activities that unite us are a reminder that we are one human family.”
RCH welcomed the invitation and published the call in Hungarian, so that Christian communitites, congregations and individuals can join in the global simultaneous recitation of the Lord's Prayer.