A Sign of Hope
January 18-25, 2026
The chosen passage for reflection in this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is Ephesians 4:4, “There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called.”
At the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 17, 2026, a meeting between Franciscan leadership and an ecumenical delegation from Finland took place at the Conventual Franciscan General Curia in Rome. The delegation from Finland came to the Curia for a formal meeting with the Minister General, Friar Carlos Trovarelli, and the General Delegate for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC), Friar Michael Lasky.
The delegation from Finland was distinguished in the size and breadth of the Christian traditions it represented. The Orthodox Church of Finland was represented by His Eminence Archbishop Elia of Helsinki, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Finland of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His presence gave strong witness to the deep theological and spiritual roots that unite Christians in the shared responsibility to safeguard creation and promote justice.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland was represented by a delegation of twenty-one participants, led by the Most Reverend Dr. Tapio Luoma, Archbishop of Turku and All Finland, Primate of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. He was accompanied by the Reverend Dr. Mika Nokelainen, Dean of the Diocesan Curia, [Turku Archdiocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland] and the Reverend Dr. Aulikki Makinen, Dean of Turku Cathedral. Their presence reflected the strong commitment of the Lutheran Church in Finland to ecumenical dialogue and to concrete collaboration for the common good.
At the heart of the discussion was the possibility of establishing “The Economy of St. Francis” movement in Finland. This ecumenical initiative is inspired by the Gospel and the life of St. Francis of Assisi. It envisions a shared journey among Lutherans, Orthodox, Catholics, and other Franciscan-hearted people, seeking to respond together to today’s social, economic, and ecological challenges through a spirituality of fraternity, simplicity, and care for creation.
The conversation was open, constructive, and deeply positive. Participants reflected on the strong resonance between Franciscan spirituality and the Finnish Christian tradition, particularly in its love for nature, silence, responsibility, and social solidarity. Special attention was given to the project’s emphasis on integral ecology and agroecology, understood not only as technical solutions, but as expressions of a renewed relationship between humanity, the earth, and God.
What emerged clearly from the meeting was a shared sense that this movement is not an abstract idea, but the organic fruit of relationships that have already been growing for years—especially through the annual Franciscan Symposium in Rauma. There was a common desire to continue discerning how this movement can take shape in Finland and, in time, potentially expand to other Nordic countries where the Conventual Franciscans are present.
The meeting concluded in a spirit of gratitude and hope, with a shared commitment to continue walking together. It was a tangible sign that Christian unity is not only prayed for, but lived—step by step—through dialogue, trust, and common action for the good of creation and the human family.
Later this week, the delegation from Finland will continue its journey by making a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi, entrusting this emerging project to his intercession. While at the birthplace of the Franciscan charism, they will offer prayer, asking that this seed planted during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity may grow into a living witness of peace, fraternity, and care for our common home.
In a world often marked by division, this meeting at the General Curia in the Friary of the Twelve Holy Apostles was a quiet but powerful reminder that when Christians come together in humility and hope, new paths forward can be opened—together.
-Friar Michael Lasky OFM CONV.
See more at https://www.ofmconv.net/en/a-sign-of-hope-at-the-beginning-of-the-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity/
Find resources for the week at https://geii.org/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity/
