December 30th, 2012  During the recent large scale ecumenical gathering at Rome, in celebration of the Taize Ecumenical Gathering,  the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made the following comments:

“This fact alone invalidates the most pessimistic considerations that tend to relegate ecumenism to the failed initiatives of history. If we can say, contrary to popular opinion, that ecumenism has not broken down, this is primarily because it is supported by the lifeblood of your youth.”

World Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant leaders were all present at the celebrations, numbering 40,000 persons.