[Vatican Radio] The fifth session of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission concluded this week with a decision to hold next year’s meeting near the southern Canadian city of Toronto.

The group, known as ARCIC III, met at a retreat house south of Rome from April 28th to May 4th to discuss relations between local, regional and Universal Churches and how moral or ethical decisions are made within each tradition. The Anglican and Catholic scholars have also been reviewing the substantial progress made by earlier ARCIC groups and are preparing to publish commentary on five jointly agreed statements from the previous phases of the dialogue.

During an audience with the group on Thursday, Pope Francis said these discussions remind us that ecumenism is not a secondary element in the life of the Church and that the differences which divide us must never be seen as inevitable.

Read the full story and listen to the broadcast.

Read the full text of the communiqué from the meeting.