50 years of ecumenical dialogue
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is closely linked to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). John XXIII (1958-1963), in creating this institution initially in the form of a “secretariat” in June 1960, had hoped that the involvement of the Catholic Church in the contemporary ecumenical movement would be one of the principal objectives of the future council. This is why this dicastery is responsible above all for promoting, within the Catholic Church, an ecumenical spirit according to the conciliar Decree Unitatis redintegratio.
This Pontifical Council also works for the development of dialogue and collaboration with the other confessions and world-wide “communions”. It also established from its inception a collaboration with the WCC (World Council of Churches) headquartered in Geneva. This dicastery became a permanent organ of the Holy See in 1966. By the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, dated June 28, 1988, John Paul II transformed the “secretariat” into the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
(DICI no. 218 dated July 10, 2010)
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