VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI in Turkey - Common Declaration: “We give thanks to the Author of all that is good, who allows us once again, in prayer and in dialogue, to express the joy we feel as brothers and to renew our commitment to move towards full communion”

Istanbul (Agenzia Fides) - At the end of the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom celebrated in the Patriarchal Church of St George at the Phanar on 30 November, Pope Benedict XVI and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I went to the Throne Hall of the adjoining Ecumenical Patriarchate to sign a Common Declaration.
The Declaration, in French, opens with the affirmation that the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI of Rome and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I “is God’s work, and in a certain sense his gift…We give thanks to the Author of all that is good, who allows us once again, in prayer and in dialogue, to express the joy we feel as brothers and to renew our commitment to move towards full communion”.
The Declaration recalls meetings between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras “the meetings of our venerable predecessors, blessed by the Lord, who showed the world the urgent need for unity and traced sure paths for attaining it, through dialogue, prayer and the daily life of the Church”. Recalling later meetings between their Successors which led to the effacing of the memory of the ancient anathemas which for centuries have had a negative effect on relations between the Churches, they urge the faithful to take an active part in the process of restoring communion, through prayer and through significant gestures..
After expressing satisfaction for the resumed activity of the mixed Commission for theological dialogue, Benedict XVI e Bartholomew I confirmed their commitment to proclaiming the Gospel to the world today. This mission “is today more timely and necessary than ever, even in traditionally Christian countries”, because of the “the increase of secularization, relativism, even nihilism, especially in the Western world. All this calls for a renewed and powerful proclamation of the Gospel, adapted to the cultures of our time”.
The Declaration continues: “We have viewed positively the process that has led to the formation of the European Union” they writes in the Declaration, urging those involved in this process to consider “all aspects affecting the inalienable rights of the human person, especially religious freedom, a witness and guarantor of respect for all other freedoms”. “In Europe, while remaining open to other religions and to their cultural contributions, we must unite our efforts to preserve Christian roots, traditions and values, to ensure respect for history, and thus to contribute to the European culture of the future and to the quality of human relations at every level”.
Benedict XVI and Bartholomew I say with regard to “to those parts of today’s world where Christians live and to the difficulties they have to face, particularly poverty, wars and terrorism, but equally to various forms of exploitation of the poor, of migrants, women and children. We are called to work together to promote respect for the rights of every human being, created in the image and likeness of God, and to foster economic, social and cultural development.”. The Declaration states that “killing innocent people in God’s name is an offence against him and against human dignity” and calls for renewed service of humanity and the defence of human life, every human life.
“We take profoundly to heart the cause of peace in the Middle East, where our Lord lived, suffered, died and rose again, and where a great multitude of our Christian brethren have lived for centuries - the Pope and the Patriarch affirm - We fervently hope that peace will be re-established in that region, that respectful coexistence will be strengthened between the different peoples that live there, between the Churches and between the different religions found there. To this end, we encourage the establishment of closer relationships between Christians, and of an authentic and honest interreligious dialogue, with a view to combating every form of violence and discrimination.”
The Pope and the Patriarch express concern “in the face of the great threats to the natural environment” and “the negative consequences for humanity and for the whole of creation which can result from economic and technological progress that does not know its limits. As religious leaders, we consider it one of our duties to encourage and to support all efforts made to protect God’s creation, and to bequeath to future generations a world in which they will be able to live”. Benedict XVI and Bartholomew I conclude “In Christ we greet other Christians, assuring them of our prayers and our openness to dialogue and cooperation”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/12/2006 - righe 50, parole 719)