Pope addresses Ecumenical Patriarchate delegation

(June 27, 2009) The Catholic Church wishes to contribute in all possible ways to reaching full unity with its Orthodox brothers, Pope Benedict assured an Orthodox delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on Saturday. Members of the delegation led by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, on a traditional visit to Rome for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29, were the guests at the Pope’s table for lunch on Saturday. Addressing them the Pope wished that they can look with confidence to the continued good work of the “Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church”, whose next meeting is scheduled for October this year in Cyprus. He noted that the meeting will address a crucial issue of East-West relations, namely, the role of the bishop of Rome in the communion of the Church during the first millennium. Pope Benedict also hoped that the misunderstanding and tension that surfaced among Orthodox delegates at the last meeting of the commission, will be overcome in brotherly love, so that dialogue is more fully representative of Orthodoxy.