Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Pope works to reunify Catholic Church with Orthodox; signs common declaration

Pope Benedict recommits Church to working towards reunification with Orthodox

Istanbul, Nov. 30, 2006 (CNA) - Pope Benedict XVI successfully completed his top objective today in Istanbul, joining Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in celebrating one of the most solemn feasts of the Orthodox calendar, the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. Both the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Holy Father offered words during the Byzantine liturgy celebrating the Patron of the Church of Constantinople and brother of St. Peter. The Holy Father recommitted himself, during his homily, to seeking the reunification of the two Churches.

The Holy Father was invited to join the Patriarch for this important feast shortly after his election as Pope and the celebration was the primary reason for his trip to Turkey.

The Pontiff arrived at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George to the ringing of numerous bells, which in the Orthodox tradition signals the call to prayer and honors important visitors. According to a press release from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, “The ringing of the church bells at the Ecumenical Patriarchate joyfully celebrated Pope Benedict’s arrival and the of visit Orthodox-Catholic relations.”
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Pope and Patriarch sign common declaration on Orthodox-Catholic relations

Istanbul, Nov. 30, 2006 (CNA) - Following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle and Patron of the Church of Constantinople, Pope Benedict XVI and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I signed a common declaration on the relationship between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The two gave thanks to God, who by His work has given them the gift of this “fraternal encounter.”

“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 two prelates said. “This commitment comes from the Lord’s will and from our responsibility as Pastors in the Church of Christ. May our meeting be a sign and an encouragement to us to share the same sentiments and the same attitudes of fraternity, cooperation and communion in charity and truth.”
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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 3:31 PM