Abp Christodoulos, Pope Sign Declaration at Historic Meeting

[尼古拉前执事]

Christodoulos, Pope Sign Declaration at Historic Meeting
Greek Orthodox Leader Sounds Hopeful Note During Vatican Visit
http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=99931

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 14, 2006 (Zenit.org).- A first visit of an Orthodox archbishop of Athens and All Greece to a Pope at the Vatican marked an important step in overcoming the division between Orthodox and Catholics.

Today's historic meeting between Archbishop Christodoulos and Benedict XVI ended with the signing of a joint declaration by the two religious leaders to reaffirm the collaboration of Orthodox and Catholics, particularly in the defense of life and the recovery of Europe's Christian roots.

This was not the Greek archbishop's first visit to the Vatican, though it was his first to the Pope. Archbishop Christodoulos had met Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, then dean of the College of Cardinals, on the occasion of Pope John Paul II's funeral on April 8, 2005.

After their private meeting today, the members of the Orthodox archbishop's entourage entered the Pope's private library to hear both addresses.

Benedict XVI spoke first, attesting that "today, our relations resumed slowly but profoundly and with a concern of authenticity."

"It offers us the opportunity to discover a whole new range of spiritual expressions full of meaning and a mutual commitment. We thank God," the Pope said.

Toward the future

After recalling the important steps that have been taken in the relationship between Catholics and Greek Orthodox, as a result of John Paul II's visit to that country in May 2001, Benedict XVI invited his guest to turn "our gaze towards the future," to address "an enormous field in which our mutual and pastoral collaboration will be able to grow."

"Catholics and Orthodox are called to offer their cultural and, above all, their spiritual contribution," the Holy Father said. "They have the duty to defend the Christian roots of the Continent, which have forged it in the course of the centuries, and thus allow Christian tradition to continue manifesting itself and operating with all its forces to safeguard the dignity of the human person, respect of minorities, being careful to avoid a cultural uniformity that would run the risk of losing immense riches of civilization."

Benedict XVI went on to note: "It is necessary to work to safeguard the rights of man, which include the principle of individual liberty, in particular, religious liberty. These rights must be promoted and defended in the European Union and in every member country."

In his speech, Archbishop Christodoulos addressed virtually the same topics raised by the Pope.

"We come," the Orthodox leader said, "to visit the eminent theologian and university professor, the assiduous researcher of ancient Greek thought and of the Greek Fathers of the East; but also the visionary of Christian unity and cooperation of religions to ensure the peace of the whole world."

The archbishop said his visit offered the opportunity "to undertake a new stage on the common path of our Churches to address the problems of the present-day world."

Journey of unity

Archbishop Christodoulos spoke of his commitment to "overcome the dogmatic obstacles that hinder the journey of unity in faith" until Orthodox and Catholics attain "full unity," and can "commune in the precious Body and Blood of the Lord in the same Chalice of Life."

In this connection, the archbishop of Athens was confident about the work of the mixed international commission that is entrusted with the dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Church. The commission met last September in Belgrade, putting an end to years of stagnation.

Prior to the audience with the Pope, Archbishop Christodoulos visited St. Peter's Basilica and prayed at the tomb of John Paul II and other Popes.

In the afternoon, he took part in a solemn celebration in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, in which he received as a gift from the Church of Rome two links of the chain with which, according to tradition, the Apostle Paul was made prisoner.

The gift was prepared at the request of John Paul II for this visit, which the Orthodox representative was unable to undertake because of the Polish Pontiff's deteriorating health.

[尼古拉前执事]

JOINT DECLARATION OF POPE AND HIS BEATITUDE CHRISTODOULOS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 14, 2006 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, following their private meeting and after each had pronounced a public address, the Pope and His Beatitude Christodoulos, archbishop of Athens and of all Greece, signed a Joint Declaration in the presence of members of the archbishop's Greek delegation and of Catholic representatives.

"We, Benedict XVI, Pope and Bishop of Rome, and Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and of all Greece, in this sacred place of Rome, ... wish to live ever more intensely our mission to bear apostolic witness, to transmit the faith, ... and to announce the Good News of the birth of the Lord. ... It is also our joint responsibility to overcome, in love and truth, the multiple difficulties and painful experiences of the past."

"Our meeting in charity makes us more aware of our joint task: together to follow the arduous path of dialogue in truth in order to re-establish full communion of faith. ... Thus we obey a divine mandate ... and continue our commitment, ... following the example of the Apostles and demonstrating mutual love and a spirit of reconciliation."

"We recognize the important steps made in the dialogue of charity, and in the decisions of Vatican Council II concerning relations between us. Moreover, we hope that bilateral theological dialogue will take advantage of these positive elements in order to formulate propositions acceptable to both sides, in a spirit of reconciliation."

"Together we affirm the need to persevere on the road of constructive theological dialogue because, despite the difficulties, this is one of the essential ways we have to re-establish the longed-for unity, ... and to reinforce the credibility of the Christian message in a period of enormous social upheaval and of great spiritual searching by many of our contemporaries, who are disquieted by growing globalization which at times even threatens the lives of human beings and their relationship with God and the world."

"We solemnly renew our desire to announce the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, especially to new generations. ... This is very important in our societies where many schools of thought distance people from God and contribute nothing to the meaning of life."

"We believe that religions have a role to play to ensure the triumph of peace in the world, and that they must in no way be the focus for intolerance and violence. As Christian religious leaders, we exhort all religious leaders to maintain and reinforce inter-religious dialogue, and to work to create a society of peace and fraternity among individuals and peoples. This is one of the missions of religion."

The Pope and the Archbishop recognize the huge progress of science, but express concern at "experiments on human beings which do not respect the dignity or integrity of the person at all stages of existence, from conception to natural death." They also call for "more effective protection" of "the fundamental rights of human beings, founded on the dignity of man created in God's image."

"We trust in a fruitful collaboration," they continue, "to ensure that our contemporaries may rediscover the Christian roots of the European continent." This, they write, "will help them to experience and promote fundamental human and spiritual values for the good of people and of society itself."

Benedict XVI and His Beatitude Christodoulos invite wealthy nations to show solidarity towards less-developed countries. "It is likewise important," they write, "not to exploit the creation, which is the work of God, abusively." In this context, they call for "a reasoned and respectful care of creation, in order to administer it correctly, while maintaining solidarity, especially with people suffering hunger, and leaving future generations an earth that can truly be inhabited by everyone."

At the end of their declaration, the Holy Father and the Archbishop of Athens and of all Greece call upon the Lord "to grant all mankind the gift of peace, in the charity and unity of the human family."

AC/JOINT DECLARATION/CHRISTODOULOS VIS 061214 (670)

[尼古拉前执事]

Παρ, 15 Δεκ 2006 11:33:00
A Statement - Kaspers's "Gift" to Christodoulos

The opening of a new page in the relations of the Church of Greece with the Vatican is the subject of articles in the Italian press today, while Cardinal Kasper described the Church of Greece as the second most important Orthodox Church.

"We are at a very important phase of Ecumenism, full of happenings and consequently we cannot talk about stagnation. The Church of Greece is very ancient, founded by the Apostle Paul and with 10 million faithful, is the second most important Orthodox Church after the Patriarchate of Moscow", Cardinal Walter Kasper said, according to the journalistic organ of the Italian Catholic Hierarchy "Avvenire".

This statement of the Cardinal, who is Chairman of the Roman Catholic Commission for Theological Dialogue with the Orthodox Churches, came immediately after the meeting of Archbishop Christodoulos with Pope Benedict.

The majority of Italian newspapers covered with extensive reportage the historic, as they called it, meeting of the Pope with the Archbishop, while there was special mention of the gift of a portion of the Chain.

The news was also broadcast on the Italian television networks.