By Viktoriia Havaleshko
We had the joy of welcoming Archbishop Flavio Pace, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, to The Lay Centre, where ecumenism lies at the very heart of our mission and daily life.
Together with our community, he presided over the Eucharist and, as we approached the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope, invited us to take this moment as an opportunity to place Christ once again at the center of our lives—both personally and in our shared journey toward unity.
In his homily, the Archbishop emphasized that Advent is, above all, a time to renew and deepen our relationship with God. He reminded us that God chooses our hearts as the place of His birth, bringing true hope and peace. Christ is the door through which we enter into communion with the Father, and God continues to act in the story of our salvation—“beginning with us, but not without us.”
It is He who heals, restores, and never tires of pouring out His grace upon us.
The Archbishop posed questions that invited the community to reflect on moments when God cared for us, when we longed for His love, when we sought signs of His presence in our daily lives, and when we experienced His gentle guidance.
Insights from the Pope’s Apostolic Journey to Nicaea
After the shared meal, the Archbishop spoke about his impressions of Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic journey. He recalled the Holy Father’s meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and other Christian leaders in historic Nicaea, where the First Ecumenical Council took place 1,700 years ago. This encounter, together with the other moments of the papal visit, once again highlighted how deeply the desire for unity shapes the life and mission of the Church.
The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity is the institution of the Roman Curia responsible for fostering ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches and communities.
Archbishop Flavio Pace’s mission is rooted in strengthening the spirit of unity, encouraging dialogue, promoting shared initiatives, deepening theological understanding, and nurturing fraternal relations—an experience he generously shared with our community.
At a time when Christian traditions around the world seek greater closeness and mutual understanding, the work of the Dicastery serves as a vital bridge, building trust and deepening fraternity among the disciples of Christ.
Our evening with the Archbishop, marked by prayer, dialogue, and encounter across traditions, carried profound meaning. For we at The Lay Centre, too, are called to walk the path of unity—embracing diversity as a gift that opens our hearts and broadens our horizons.
