VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI in Turkey - Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Saint Andrew: “Our efforts to build closer ties between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches are a part of this missionary task”

Istanbul (Fides Service) - On the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle, patron saint of the Church of Constantinople, Thursday 30 November, Pope Benedict XVI was invited by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to attend the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom at the Church of St George at the Phanar, Istanbul. At the end of the Liturgy the Pope addressed those present: “Today, in this Patriarchal Church of Saint George, we are able to experience once again the communion and call of the two brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, in the meeting of the Successor of Peter and his Brother in the episcopal ministry, the head of this Church traditionally founded by the Apostle Andrew. Our fraternal encounter highlights the special relationship uniting the Churches of Rome and Constantinople as Sister Churches.”.
The Pope recalled important steps have been taken along the path of mutual rapprochement taken by Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, and their successors. “In that same spirit, my presence here today is meant to renew our commitment to advancing along the road towards the re-establishment - by God’s grace - of full communion between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople”.
“The two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, were fishermen whom Jesus called to become fishers of men. The Risen Lord, before his Ascension, sent them out together with the other Apostles with the mission of making all nations his disciples, baptizing them and proclaiming his teachings” the Pope said, adding “This charge left us by the holy brothers Peter and Andrew is far from finished. On the contrary, today it is even more urgent and necessary. For it looks not only to those cultures which have been touched only marginally by the Gospel message, but also to long-established European cultures deeply grounded in the Christian tradition. The process of secularization has weakened the hold of that tradition; indeed, it is being called into question, and even rejected. In the face of this reality, we are called, together with all other Christian communities, to renew Europe’s awareness of its Christian roots, traditions and values, giving them new vitality.”
The Pope continued “Our efforts to build closer ties between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches are a part of this missionary task” because “the divisions which exist among Christians are a scandal to the world and an obstacle to the proclamation of the Gospel”. “It is only through brotherly communion between Christians and through their mutual love that the message of God’s love for each and every man and woman will become credible. Anyone who casts a realistic glance on the Christian world today will see the urgency of this witness.”
Referring to the lives of Peter and Andrew the Holy Father mentioned the universal service of Peter and his Successors, which “unfortunately given rise to our differences of opinion, which we hope to overcome, thanks also to the theological dialogue which has been recently resumed.” He renewed John Paul II’s call for fraternal dialogue to find “ways in which the Petrine ministry might be exercised today, while respecting its nature and essence, so as to “accomplish a service of love recognized by all concerned””.
Saint Andrew, missionary in Asia Minor and lands south of the Black Sea as far as Greece, where he suffered martyrdom, “represents the meeting between early Christianity and Greek culture” the Pope said. Like Peter, Andrew too was martyred. “From his example we learn that the path of each single Christian, like that of the Church as a whole, leads to new life, to eternal life, through the imitation of Christ and the experience of his cross.”. Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople venerate many of the same martyrs whose blood, in the celebrated words of Tertullian, became “the seed of new Christians” said Pope Benedict XVI recalling that “the century that has just ended also saw courageous witnesses to the faith, in both East and West. Even now, there are many such witnesses in different parts of the world. We remember them in our prayer and, in whatever way we can, we offer them our support, as we urge all world leaders to respect religious freedom as a fundamental human right...”
The Pope concluded: “May our daily prayer and activity be inspired by a fervent desire not only to be present at the Divine Liturgy, but to be able to celebrate it together, to take part in the one table of the Lord, sharing the same bread and the same chalice.”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/12/2006 - righe 54, parole 760)