E Civitate Vaticana 23 March 2020
TO REV. PAUL TCHE
President of the Council on Christian Unity
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Dear Rev. Tche,

In these trying days, when humanity is deeply affected by the threat of the pandemic, I am writing to communicate the invitation which His Holiness Pope Francis has made to all Christian leaders.

Yesterday, Pope Francis publicly invited the Heads of the Churches and the leaders of every Christian community, together with all Christians, to invoke the Almighty, Omnipotent God, by praying the Lord’s Prayer simultaneously this coming Wednesday, 25 Marchideally at noon Rome time, or noon local time, or at any other convenient time of the day.

It is my hope that you will join this initiative in which all Christians invoking together the graces from heaven, will ask for the end of this pandemic, trusting in the power of God. On that day on which many Christians recall the annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word, may the Lord listen to the united prayer of all of His disciples who are preparing themselves to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ.

With renewed gratitude, I wish you a blessed Lenten season.

Kurt Cardinal Koch
President