A meeting with the Swiss authorities and with the president of the Bishops’ Conference, a visit to the ecumenical centre and a Mass celebrated for the local Catholic community. These are just some of the highlights of the programme – which has not yet been officially released – for the Pope’s visit to Geneva, on 21 June. Card. Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, announced them at a press conference for the presentation of celebrations for the 70th Anniversary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), held today in the Vatican press office. “An opportunity not only for WCC members but also for the ecumenical movement to explore new ways of working together”: this is how Card. Koch called Pope Francis’ visit, which will be “the culmination” of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of this important ecumenical institution. The event will be an occasion “to promote good relations with member churches and ecumenical partners of the WCC and to continue to respond together to the challenges of our time” in compliance with the mission entrusted by Pope Francis to ecumenism: “To walk and work together as witnesses to our faith in facing the challenges of contemporary society”. According to Card. Koch, “this is a common task for us, especially with regard to the moral challenges”, because “ecumenism does not only consist in theological dialogue. It also must include collaboration for those who are in need, and for the many victims of wars, injustice, and natural disasters”. “We must help one another: this is ecumenism”, the prelate explained, adding that “theological dialogue and practical collaboration are important for achieving the goal of full unity. But they are not sufficient. An essential part of our ecumenical journey must be prayer” as the Holy Father reminds us: we should “pray together, for one another and for unity”. Pray in particular “for persecuted Christians, regardless of their denomination”. Why cannot the Catholic Church be a member of the WCC? “The reason is the special mission of the Bishop of Rome for Christian Unity”, Card. Koch explained, answering a question from the press: “The Petrine ministry is the ministry of unity, and this dimension makes sense in the ecumenical context”. Furthermore, the Catholic Church would be by far the largest member, and this would give rise to representation problems within the Council. “But what really matters is that cooperation with the Catholic Church is significant and fruitful”, Card. Koch noted: “Good cooperation is more important than being or not being a member”.