Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) - “Ecumenical cooperation in the area of university helps maintain tension towards the desired communion among all Christians. In this regard the Second Vatican Council saw in this field an opportunity to involve the whole People of God in the quest for full unity.” These words are part of the Message addressed by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, on the occasion of the 10th Inter-Christian Symposium organised by the Institute of Franciscan Spirituality at the Pontifical Antonianum University and the Faculty of Theology of Aristotele University in Tessalonica, taking place in Tinos, Greece, 16 - 19 September.
Recalling the theme of this 10th Smposium - "Saint John Chrisostom a bridge between East and West- the Holy Father writes “this illustrious Father of the Church” is venerated in the East and in the West as “a courageous, illuminated and faithful preacher of the Word of God, upon which he founded his pastoral action; an outstanding expert in hermeneutics and homilies… Because of his courageous and faithful witness to the Gospel he suffered persecution and exile ”. On 1 May 1626 his body was entered in St Peter's Basilica and on 27 November 2004 Pope John Paul II he made of gift of part of the relics to His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, “so that in St Peter's and in the Church of Saint George at al Fanar this great Father of the Church is venerated”.
The Message continues: “Reflection during your Symposium…will help sustain and corroborate the existing real if imperfect communion between Catholics and Orthodox Christians, that we may reach that fullness which will enable us one day to celebrate the same Eucharist. And it is precisely to that blessed day that we all look with hope as we promote providential initiatives such as this.”
Benedict XVI concluded invoking God's abundant blessings on all the participants and sending “fraternal greetings to the Orthodox and Catholic faithful of Greece and especially to the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece His Beatitudine Christodoulos, wishing him a swift recovery of good health and return to his pastoral service”. (S.L.)
