The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity plays a vital role within the Catholic Church, serving as the central body responsible for cultivating a sincere ecumenical spirit and building bridges with other Churches and Ecclesial Communities. Its ultimate goal is to contribute actively to the restoration of full visible unity among all Christians a mission rooted in mutual understanding, theological dialogue, and collaborative efforts.
At its core, the Dicastery is dedicated to nurturing authentic ecumenical awareness within the Catholic Church while engaging in constructive and respectful dialogue with Christian denominations across the globe. Through initiatives of theological exchange, joint social action, and fraternal relations, the Dicastery acts as a catalyst for reconciliation and shared witness among the followers of Christ.
Cardinal Kurt Koch currently leads the Dicastery as its prefect, assisted by Archbishop Flavio Pace in the role of secretary. The Dicastery’s outreach is organized into two principal sections: the Eastern section, which manages dialogue with the Byzantine Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox traditions such as the Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Ethiopian, and Malankara Churches, and the Assyrian Church of the East; and the Western section, which focuses on relations with Protestant Churches and other Western Christian communities.
The institutional roots of this office trace back to June 5, 1960, when Pope St. John XXIII established the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity in preparation for the Second Vatican Council. This move marked the beginning of the Catholic Church’s official and structured involvement in the modern ecumenical movement. The Secretariat made a lasting impact by contributing decisively to key conciliar documents such as Unitatis Redintegratio (on ecumenism), Nostra Aetate (on interreligious relations), Dignitatis Humanae (on religious freedom), and Dei Verbum (on divine revelation).
Following the conclusion of the Council, Pope Paul VI solidified the Secretariat's position as a permanent Vatican institution in 1966. That same year, a milestone was reached when the Secretariat joined hands with the World Council of Churches' Faith and Order Commission to co-author the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, marking the beginning of a new era in ecumenical cooperation.
In 1988, Pope St. John Paul II elevated the Secretariat to the status of a Pontifical Council through the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus. Later, as part of broader reforms in 2022, Pope Francis restructured the Roman Curia under Praedicate Evangelium, and the body received its current name: the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
Under Article 142 of Praedicate Evangelium, the Dicastery is entrusted with initiating and coordinating ecumenical activities both inside the Catholic Church and in dialogue with other Churches and Communities. Article 143 outlines its responsibility to apply the teachings of the Second Vatican Council on ecumenism, interpret and guide ecumenical practices, and promote gatherings nationally and globally that aim to foster Christian unity.
The Dicastery also serves as a coordinator for other Vatican departments engaged in ecumenical dialogue and ensures consistency across the Church’s outreach to other Christian traditions. As outlined in Article 144, the Dicastery represents the Catholic Church in official theological dialogues and appoints Catholic participants and observers to various ecumenical events. It also welcomes fraternal delegates from other Christian denominations to significant Catholic celebrations and assemblies.
The Dicastery also houses the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, underscoring the Church’s commitment to fostering positive interreligious engagement with Judaism. The Commission is directly overseen by the Prefect and focuses on deepening mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation between Jews and Catholics.
Reflecting on the past six decades of ecumenical progress, Cardinal Kurt Koch emphasizes transformative moments such as the Christological agreements with Oriental Orthodox Churches resolving centuries-old doctrinal disputes and the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with the Lutheran World Federation, which addressed core theological issues from the time of the Reformation. More profoundly, he celebrates the spirit of reconciliation: that Christians no longer relate as adversaries, but embrace each other as sisters and brothers in Christ.
In a powerful message to the Dicastery’s plenary assembly in May 2022, Pope Francis urged the Church not to delay its ecumenical journey while waiting for complete theological consensus. Citing an Orthodox theologian, the Pope quipped that theologians may finally agree “the day after the Final Judgment” a reminder that the pursuit of unity must not be stalled by debate. “Let us walk together,” the Pope said, “in prayer, in acts of charity, and in the search for truth as brothers.”
Through these efforts, the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity remains a beacon of the Church’s enduring commitment to healing historical divisions and forging a future marked by mutual respect, theological depth, and shared witness to the Gospel.