Pope felicitates new Serbian Orthodox head

(January 23, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI has felicitated Patriarch Irinej Gavrilovic on his election as the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, wishing that good relations and dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches continue on the path of full communion. 80-year old Bishop Irinej of Nis was elected by the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church on Friday as successor to Patriarch Pavle, who died in November. In a message to the new Patriarch, the Holy Father recalled late Patriarch Pavle as a fervent and esteemed pastor who effectively guided the Church and maintained its unity in the face of many challenges. Pope Benedict prayed that the Lord grant the new Patriarch the inner strength to consolidate the unity and spiritual growth of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as well to build up the fraternal bonds with other Churches and ecclesial communities. He assured the Catholic Church’s commitment to the promotion of fraternal relations and theological dialogue, so that the obstacles which still impede full communion between the two Churches may be overcome. Patriarch Irinej will head a church of about 11 million Serbian Orthodox Christians in Serbia itself and in five other former Yugoslav republics, as well as Kosovo and dioceses in the United States, Australia and Western Europe