Before his recent hospitalisation, the Pope raised a question that has vexed Christianity sporadically since the 2nd century: the date on which Easter should be celebrated. “The Catholic Church,” he said, “ is open to accepting the date on which everyone has agreed: a date of unity.”
He raised the topic because, in 2025, due to an exceptional alignment of calendars, all Christian denominations will celebrate Easter on the same date: Sunday, 20 April. Usually the Orthodox – or at least many of them – celebrate Easter at a later date than Christians in the West. The Pope cited this fact in his remarks: “I renew my appeal that this coincidence may serve as a call to all Christians to take a decisive step toward unity around a common date for Easter.”