KASPER MEETING - FEBRUARY 19, 2004
On 19 February 2004, in Moscow, a meeting took place between
the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of
the Patriarchate of Moscow, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad,
Kirill, and the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion
of Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper. In the course of their
conversations, the parties considered the matters at issue in
relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic
Church, especially in Russia and in Ukraine. In particular, Cardinal
Kasper confirmed that the Holy See had received the written response
of the Russian Orthodox Church on the possible establishment of
a Greek-Catholic Patriarchate in Ukraine, as well as the responses
of all the local Orthodox Churches on this question.
Cardinal Kasper indicated that the unanimous position of all
the Orthodox Churches is being given serious consideration by
the authorities of the Catholic Church. The Catholic party assured
the Orthodox party that it is the wish of the Holy See to maintain
and further strengthen positive relations with the Orthodox Churches.
Both sides agreed that for the solution of specific issues in
relations between the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic
Churches a joint working group should be set up, composed of representatives
of both Churches who will examine these questions and make proposals
for their solution.
Participating in the meeting were Archbishop Antonio Mennini,
representative of the Holy See to the Russian Federation, Bishop
Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion
of Christian Unity, Reverend Father Jozef M. Maj, official of
the same Council, the Vice-Chairmen of the Department for External
Church Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Bishop Mark of
Egoryevsk and Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, and Reverend Father
Igor Vyzhanov, acting secretary for Inter-Christian Affairs.
