First meeting between Catholic and Orthodox bishops

May 10, 2012: In a significant meeting that was held on 8 and May 9 in Freiburg, the seat of the Swiss Bishops' Conference (ETUC) met with the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in the Helvetic country. As reported, it was placed at the center of mutual understanding, prayer and sharing of pastoral and theological reflections on the challenges that were most important.

The Catholic and Orthodox churches have begun to recognize each other as sister churches. In the course of mutual assistance, they have recognized the importance of keeping alive the faith and its propagation in Switzerland, especially because the challenges common pastoral ministry is a shared responsibility, with a view to evangelization of faith and Christian values. The Catholics and Orthodox present at the meeting expressed hope to continue to working together.

Finally, after the meeting, the Institute of Ecumenical Studies, Freiburg, paid tribute to the Apostolic Nuncio of London, Archbishop. Antonio Mennini, awarding him the "Silver Rose of St. Nicholas," in recognition of his ecumenical work carried out between 2002 and 2010, as apostolic nuncio in Moscow.