WCC News: Multitudes pray for unity around the world

From quiet utterances to radio broadcasts, from video messages to joyous celebrations, multitudes of people in churches and communities across the globe are participating in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  Opening prayer service of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 at Iglesia Unida Ekyumenikal of the United Methodist Church on January 19, 2026. Photo: United Methodist Church in the Philippines 23 January 2026 In the Philippines, a message brought by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines described a unity that transcends denominational boundaries, liturgical preferences, and organizational structures. “Our unity is our strongest witness,” reads the message. “And so we pray: Lord, make us one, that the world, and the Filipino people, may believe.” The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs joined the National Council of Churches in the Philippines for celebrations that includes a series of services and fellowship events.  In the US, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA released a newsletter and daily videos. Releasing a new prayer daily via YouTube, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA invited all to participate in prayers offered by members of 37 communions. “May these prayers inspire us to walk faithfully in the call to be one body, united in love and purpose,” the council stated.  The Dominican Sisters of Peace—located across the US in about 22 states—used daily resources to draw people closer. “May we embrace our shared calling to live in Christ’s love and reflect His unity in a divided world,” they prayed.  In the UK and Ireland, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland organized celebrations, and distributed unique resources, including “Go and Do action points” from Christian Aid that were matched with daily reflections about the relief of poverty and advocacy of justice. “The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 extends an invitation to draw upon this shared Christian heritage and to reflect on our fellowship in Christ, which unites Christians worldwide,” stated Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. The Primates of All Ireland, in a message, called Christians to deeper unity and active peace-making. They emphasised that the church, though diverse in culture and tradition, is called to live as one body in Christ, united by humility, patience, love, and the bond of peace. They called for “us to live lives worthy of our calling, with humility, gentleness, patience, and love.” A BBC Radio 4 service brought the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to thousands of listeners. Musical worship included the singing of Psalm 133 and other hymns and anthems. Gathering led by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and Catholic Bishops’ Conference in the Philippines was one in the series of worship and fellowship during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from 19 to 26 January 2026. Photo: Tondo Evangelical Church of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines In Egypt, the Middle East Council of Churches, in cooperation with the Egyptian Council of Churches, organized the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Egypt 2026, under the auspices of the churches in Egypt. The churches in Egypt observed the special week “not a passing occasion, but a continuous spiritual commitment and a living witness” through which the Christian churches in Egypt “affirm the continuation of their shared journey of hope, service, and witness before the world.” In Germany, the Council of Christian Churches in Germany (ACK) hosted a joint service with the Evangelical Alliance in Nuremberg on 18 January, and on 25 January, churches will celebrate a central service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at the Diocesan Church of St Sahak-St Mesrop in Cologne. At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV urged people to intensify prayer for the full unity of Christians. Pope Leo added that this call to communion will accompany reflection throughout the week, which will conclude on 25 January, when the pope will preside at the celebration of Vespers in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Pope Leo also invited the faithful to pray for Christian unity and for peace, especially in our time marked by a lack of respect for human dignity and heightened international tensions. "Let us pray for peace at a moment in history that seems marked by a growing loss of respect for the value of human dignity and in which war has come back into fashion,” he said. “May the humanity of Jesus, who reveals the Father, help us to find paths of justice and reconciliation.” In the Holy Land, the Terra Sancta Museum in Jerusalem featured an initiative, “Faces of Unity,” that invited people to meet artistic and religious figures from sister churches. "Stay tuned as we take you through the streets of Jerusalem to discover Armenian, Coptic, Lutheran, and many other expressions of the rich Christian art,” invited the museum. Prayer highlights Christian unity as a necessity, not a luxury (WCC news release, 19 January 2026) Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 invites Christians to one hope, one calling (WCC news release, 14 January 2026) Learn more about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 Reading plan on the Youversion Bible app Social media cards and photos See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland