New Papal Message On Unity With the Orthodox

A topic near and dear to my heart.


2009-03-03
"This Beautiful Church Awakens in Us the Nostalgia for Full Unity"VATICAN CITY, MARCH 2, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the message Benedict XVI sent to a ceremony Sunday in which the president of Italy turned over the keys to a Russian Orthodox church in southern Italy to the president of Russia.
The Holy Father was represented at the ceremony by Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, retired archbishop of Palermo, Italy, who read the message on the Pope's behalf.
~~~
QUOTE
The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, who has asked me to represent him in this significant ceremony, sends his cordial greetings to the religious and civil authorities and to all those present, in particular to the president of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, to the president of the Russian Federation, Dmitriy Medvedev, to the ministers, to His Excellency Mark, "ad interim" president of the Department of External Church Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, and to the most excellent Monsignor Francesco Cacucci, pastor of this particular Church. He wants to renew, above all, his fervent best wishes to the patriarch of Moscow and of All Russia, His Holiness Kirill I, asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten his demanding ministry.
The Pope is pleased at the fact that this building responds, here in Bari, to the devotion of the Russian Orthodox to St. Nicholas. The Russian people has never faltered in its love for this great saint, who has always supported it in moments of joy and in difficulties. This is witnessed also by this Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, built at the beginnings of the past century, to welcome the pilgrims who, in particular in their trips to the Holy Land, made a stop in Bari, a point of encounter between East and West, to venerate the relics of the saint. How could we not recognize that this beautiful church awakens in us the nostalgia for full unity and maintains alive in us the commitment to work for union among all the disciples of Christ?
In truth, the history of Bari and of this region is marked in a profound way by the presence of the Eastern world, and ecumenical sensitivity is one of the characteristic traits of the populations of Apulia. Precisely because of this, the Holy Father Benedict XVI hopes that this ceremony too will contribute so that Bari continues being, as Pope John Paul II of happy memory said, a "natural bridge to the East," offering its precious contribution to the path toward full communion among Christians.
With these sentiments, invoking the intercession of the Mother of God and of St. Nicholas, the Pope renews his greetings to those present and sends them his blessing through my own. UNQUOTE
[Translation by ZENIT]
****

Steps Towards Church Unity

Cardinal Sepe Visits Bartholomew I
ISTANBUL, Turkey, FEB. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- QUOTE The archbishop of Naples was received in audience Tuesday by the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, who noted the prelate's efforts to promote Christian unity.The Neapolitan archdiocese reported that the meeting between Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe and Bartholomew I took place in Istanbul. The prelate was accompanied by Archbishop Armando Dini, retired archbishop of Campobasso, Archbishop Antonio Lucibello, the apostolic nuncio in Turkey, and several members of the Catholic lay Sant'Egidio community. During the meeting, Bartholomew I referred to Benedict XVI's visit in November 2006, and his decision to "go forward on the common path of unity, in the hope of seeing, as soon as possible, the mending of the fracture between the two sister Churches."UNQUOTE

The gateway to divine repentance has been opened. Let us enter eagerly, purified in our bodies and observing abstinence from food and passions, as obedient servants of Christ, who has called the world into the heavenly Kingdom. Let us offer to the King of All a tenth part of the whole year, that we may look with love upon His Resurrection.
Matins for Monday in Cheese-Fare Week

Who Are the Eastern Catholics?

Catherine Alexander speaks with Father Maximos of Holy Resurrection Romanian Catholic Monastery in Newberry Springs, CA about Eastern Catholic identity.

Questions Asked:
1. Some people say Eastern Catholics are Roman Catholics of an Eastern rite, some say they are orthodox Christians who are currently in communion with Rome, and some say Eastern Catholics are primarily a bridge of unity between East and West. I'd like to discuss each of these three positions with you.

2. I'd like to discuss the title, "Roman Catholics of an Eastern rite." The emphasis is that they're Catholic first, and believe all things that the Roman Catholic Church believes, while living out that faith through a different liturgical and devotional framework. Will you discuss what it means to be an Eastern Catholic in light of this title?

3. Some people say that Eastern Catholics are Orthodox Christians in communion with Rome as a means of asserting the Eastern Catholic Churches' independence from Rome and their unity with Orthodoxy, especially in the areas of history, theology, and spirituality. What do you think the benefits and pitfalls are of using this title to describe the relationship Eastern Catholics have with Rome?

Part 1


Part 2