The annual "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" is underway in Rome with ecumenical services and sermons to promote inter-denominational dialogue, this year with the theme "My peace I give to you" (Jn 14: 23-31). On Mon 19 Jan there is a prayer service organised by the Comunit di S. Egidio at S. Maria in Trastevere at 20.30. On Wed 21 Jan there will be a service in Italian with a speaker from the Lutheran Church in Rome, at S. Barnaba, Piazza dei Geografi 15 (Tor Pignattara) at 18.30. On Thurs 22 Jan Professor Popmeier, an expert on the First Vatican Council, will speak about "The First Vatican Council through the eyes of the Second" at the Centro Comunione of S. Maria dell'Anima, Via S. Maria dell'Anima 30 (Piazza Navona), at 16.30. This will be followed immediately by an ecumenical celebration presided by Dr Pieter Bouman of Rome's Methodist Church, with a sermon by the Right Reverend John Flack, representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See and director of the Anglican Centre of Rome.

Christian Unity Week concludes on Sun 25 Jan with Vespers with Cardinal Walter Kasper, head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, at S. Paolo Fuori le Mura, Piazzale S. Paolo, at 18.00. For information contact Dr Bouman at the Ponte S. Angelo Methodist Church, tel. 066868314.