Centuries-old controversy between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches about how to calculate the date Easter can end when Pope Francis‘ last appeal granted.
Meeting on November 19 with the head of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Ava III, Francis called for an end to differences in how Catholics and Eastern churches determine the date Easter every spring.
“Let us have the courage to put an end to this division that sometimes makes us laugh, ‘When will your Christ rise?'” Francis Mar Ava said in a comment after their meeting in the Vatican. “I want to, but I don’t [only] The Catholic Church is ready to follow what St. Paul VI said. Agree, and we will go where you say,” added the Pontiff.
Two bodies fell over the settlement Easter after the introduction of the Gregorian calendar by Pope Gregory XII in 1582, the Eastern Orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar proposed by Julius Caesar in AD 46.
There is also the question of how the dates for Easter should be calculated. Council of Nicaea in 325 AD Easter must be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon that falls on or after the vernal equinox. In practice this means Easter may fall between March 22 and April 25.
Orthodox churches have other requirements: Easteror Passover, must occur after the Jewish celebration of Passover.
In 2025 Francis noted v him notes, two branches of Christianity will celebrate Easter on the same Sunday.
He said: “2025 is an important year: we will celebrate the anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council (Nicaea), but it is also important because we will celebrate Easter on the same date.”
Francis said Mar Ava, he thanked the Assyrian Christian leader “for expressing his desire to find a common date for Christians to join the celebration Easter.”
