CNA Staff, May 21, 2021 / 05:45 am (CNA).
An ecumenical event in Germany last weekend culminated with the Catholic and Protestant leaders of the initiative publicly receiving communion in each others’ churches.
Bettina Limperg, the Lutheran co-president of the Ecumenical Church Congress, received Holy Communion in a Catholic church.
Thomas Sternberg, fellow co-president and head of the influential lay Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), received communion during a service at a Protestant church.
The Ecumenical Church Congress took place in Frankfurt and online amid a controversy about intercommunion that drew the Vatican’s attention.
In the run-up to the May 13-16 event, Rome expressed concerns that the congress might promote a controversial proposal for a “Eucharistic meal fellowship” between Catholics and Protestants.