Pope commemorates Protestant Reformation in Sweden

Thousands of Swedes welcome Pope Francis for two days of celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, today at Lund Cathedral. It's the first papal visit in Sweden since 1989 when John Paul II held a mass for 16,000 people in Stockholm's Globe Arena.  

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  Pope Francis celebrates mass at Lund Cathedral on Oct. 31, 2016.

• Pope Francis is in Sweden to mark the joint Lutheran-Catholic commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. He will arrive in Malmö on Oct. 31 and be greeted by Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and meet the Royal Family. That afternoon and on Tuesday, Nov. 1, which is All Saints' Day, he will participate in ecumenical prayer services at Lund Cathedral, Malmö Arena and Swedbank stadion. The events will include prayers according to the recently published "Common Prayer,” a jointly-written Catholic and Lutheran liturgical guide prepared for the Reformation anniversary. Most events are open to the public.
  "It is with joy and expectation that the Church of Sweden welcomes The Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church to hold the joint commemoration of the Reformation in Lund,” said Church of Sweden Archbishop Antje Jackelén in a statement. "I am very happy that the Pope is coming to Lund and that the Roman Catholic Church together with the Lutheran World Federation open for this exceptional meeting. It's a step forward for the work of the churches."

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  Choirs, clergy, Catholics, Lutherans and many others sing in Swedish, Spanish, English, German, Polish and Latin in celebration of the churches' work together in commemoration of the Reformation. Photo still from livestreamed media

• The service is live streaming at http://www.lund2016.net/media/livestream/