Greek Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens meets with Pope Benedict XVI
(14 Dec. 2006) : Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, the head of the Greek Orthodox
Church, met with Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday in the Vatican for talks on relations
between the two churches. Although the Archbishop attended the funeral of Pope John
Paul II in April 2005, this is his first formal visit ever made by a Greek Orthodox
primate to the Holy See. Relations between Catholic and Orthodox churches have
improved significantly in recent years, though they remain divided by long-standing
questions of doctrine. In his remarks on Wednesday, Archbishop Christodoulos referred
to «the scandal of the division of Christians» and spoke of a continuing, 25-year
dialogue that has as its aim to break the ice between the churches. Archbishop Christodoulos
set his visit in a broader perspective, expressing the need for collaboration of religions,
and not only between the Christian churches. World peace is threatened by the fanaticism
of certain persons, on which they put the label of religion, he said.