Moscow Patriarchate publishes book of Pope's words

(Dec.02,2009): The Russian Orthodox Church has published a book in Italian and Russian with texts from Pope Benedict XVI on the culture of Europe. This is the first time the Moscow Patriarchate is publishing a compilation of texts from a Pope. It is titled "Europe, Spiritual Homeland," and includes addresses by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger during the course of more than a decade.
The presentation of the book took place in Rome on Wednesday during a round table conference on "The Role of the Churches in the Cultural Integration of Europe." The volume was introduced by the chairman of the Department of External Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev. "This book is an event of unprecedented historic scope in the millennial history of Catholics and Russian Orthodox," explained the editor of the book, Pierluca Azzaro. But before and above all he said, it is a great testimony of love of Christ and between Christians.”
A vice-chairman of the patriarchate's department of external affairs said the book is a testimony of the absolute identity of views and positions between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, in regard to modern social processes. He added that it is at the same time a proof of the enormous possibility of Catholic-Orthodox cooperation.