Prayer for the Unity of Christians
18th - 25th January, the week leading up to the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, is particularly devoted to prayer for the unity of all Christians.
The theme for 2012 is We will all be Changed by the Victory of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:51-58) - the preparatory material is from Poland, where the annual meeting was held in Warsaw. There are resources for the week of prayer and throughout the year 2012 in Chinese, English, French, German & Spanish. For more detailed info, take a look at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity on the Vatican website.
To read the Holy Father's homily at the Liturgy of Vespers on the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul and his address during the preceding Week of Prayer for Unity, and to link to the resources for prayer, click on the relevant year:
2011: One in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer (Acts 2: 42)
Preparatory material from Jerusalem – meeting held in Saydnaya, Syria
2010: You are witnesses of these things (Luke 24:48)
Preparatory material from Scotland – meeting held in Glasgow, Scotland
2009: That they may become one in your hand (Ezek 37: 15-28)
Preparatory material from Korea – meeting held in Marseilles, France
2008: Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5: (12a) 13b-18)
Preparatory material from USA – meeting held in Graymoor, Garrison, USA
2007: He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak (Mk 7: 31-37)
Preparatory material from South Africa – meeting held in Faverges, France
2006: Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them (Mt 18: 18-20)
Preparatory material from Ireland - meeting held in Prosperous, Co. Kildare, Ireland
2005: Christ, the one foundation of the church (1 Corinthians 3 1-23)
Preparatory material from Slovakia - meeting in Piestaňy, Slovakia
2004: My peace I give to you (John 14: 23-31; John 14: 27)
Preparatory material from Aleppo, Syria - meeting in Palermo, Sicily
2003: We have this treasure in clay jars (2 Corinthians 4: 4-18)
Preparatory material churches in Argentina, meeting at Los Rubios, Spain
2002: For with you is the fountain of life (Psalm 36: 5-9)
Preparatory material CEEC and CEC, meeting near Augsbourg, Germany
2001: I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life (John 14: 1-6)
Preparatory material from Romania and meeting held at Vulcan, Romania
2000: Blessed be God who has blessed us in Christ (Ephesians 1: 3-14)
Preparatory material from the Middle East Council of Churches, meeting held La Verna, Italy
1999: He will dwell with them as their God, they will be his peoples (Revelation 21: 1-7)
Preparatory material from Malaysia, meeting held in Monastery of Bose, Italy
1998: The Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8: 14-27)
Preparatory material from France, meeting held in Paris, France
1997: We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5: 20)
Material from Nordic Ecumenical Council, preparatory meeting held in Stockholm, Sweden
1996: Behold, I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3: 14-22)
Preparatory material from Portugal, meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal
1995: Koinonia: communion in God and with one another (John 15: 1-17)
Material from Faith and Order, preparatory meeting held in Bristol, England
1994: The household of God: called to be one in heart and mind (Acts 4: 23-37)
Material from Ireland - preparatory meeting held in Dublin, Republic of Ireland
1993: Bearing the fruit of the Spirit for Christian unity (Galatians 5: 22-23)
Material from Zaire - preparatory meeting held near Zurich, Switzerland
1992: I am with you always ... Go, therefore (Matthew 28: 16-20)
Material from Belgium - preparatory meeting held in Bruges, Belgium
1991: Praise the Lord, all you nations! (Psalm 117 and Romans 15: 5-13)
Material from Germany - preparatory meeting held in Rotenburg an der Fulda, FR Germany
1990: That they all may be one...That the world may believe (John 17)
Material from Spain - preparatory meeting held in Madrid, Spain
1989: Building community: one body in Christ (Romans 12: 5-6a)
Material from Canada - preparatory meeting held in Whaley Bridge, England
1988: The love of God casts out fear (1 John 4: 18)
Material from Italy - preparatory meeting held in Pinerolo, Italy
1987: United in Christ - a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5: 17-6: 4a)
Material from England, preparatory meeting held in Taizé, France
1986: You shall be my witnesses (Acts 1: 6-8)
Material from Yugoslavia (Slovenia), preparatory meeting held in Yugoslavia
1985: From death to life with Christ (Ephesians 2: 4-7)
Material from Jamaica - preparatory meeting held in Grandchamp, Switzerland
1984: Called to be one through the cross of our Lord (1 Cor 2: 2 and Col 1: 20)
Preparatory meeting held in Venice, Italy
1983: Jesus Christ - the Life of the World (1 John 1: 1-4)
Material from an ecumenical group in Ireland - preparatory meeting held in Céligny (Bossey), Switzerland
1982: May all find their home in you, O Lord (Psalm 84)
Material from Kenya - preparatory meeting held in Milan, Italy
1981: One Spirit - many gifts - one body (1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13)
Material from Graymoor Fathers, USA - preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland
1980: Your kingdom come (Matthew 6: 10)
Material from an ecumenical group in Berlin, German Democratic Republic -preparatory meeting held in Milan
1979: Serve one another to the glory of God (l Peter 4: 7-11)
Material from Argentina - preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland
1978: No longer strangers (Ephesians 2: 13-22)
Material from an ecumenical team in Manchester, England
1977: Enduring together in hope (Romans 5: 1-5)
Material from Lebanon, in the midst of a civil war. Preparatory meeting held in Geneva
1976: We shall be like him (1 John 3: 2) or, Called to become what we are
Material from Caribbean Conference of Churches. Preparatory meeting held in Rome, Italy
1975: God’s purpose: all things in Christ (Ephesians 1: 3-10)
Material from an Australian group. Preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland
1974: That every tongue confess: Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2: 1-13)
Preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland
1973: Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11: 1)
Preparatory meeting held at the Abbey of Montserrat, Spain
1972: I give you a new commandment (John 13: 34)
Preparatory meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland
1971: ...and the communion of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13: 13)
1970: We are fellow workers for God (1 Corinthians 3: 9)
>Preparatory meeting held at the Monastery of Niederaltaich, FR of Germany
1969: Called to freedom (Galatians 5: 13)
Preparatory meeting held in Rome, Italy
1968: To the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1: 14)
In 1968, materials jointly prepared by the WCC Faith and Order Commission and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity were first used.