Papst würdigt Fortschritte in Beziehungen zu Moskau
Papst Benedikt XVI. hat die bereits erzielten Fortschritte in den Beziehungen zu Moskau
gewürdigt. Zugleich äußerte er in einem am Freitag im Vatikan veröffentlichten Brief
an den Moskauer Patriarchen Alexij II. den Wunsch nach einer weiteren Annährung zwischen
Katholiken und Russisch-Orthodoxen. „Mögen wir gemeinsam unsere Reise zur vollen Gemeinschaft
in Christus unternehmen“, heißt es in dem Schreiben, dass der vatikanische Ökumene-Minister
Kardinal Walter Kasper am Donnerstag während seiner Russlandreise überbrachte. Die
Einladung von Metropolit Kyrill, dem Außenamtschef des Moskauer Patriarchats, an den
Kurienkardinal sei ein weiteres Zeichen der Brüderlichkeit und Freundschaft gegenüber
der katholischen Kirche, schreibt Benedikt XVI. Er verwies darauf, dass Kasper während
seines Russlandsbesuchs auch nach Kazan gereist sei und dort die berühmte Marien-Ikone
verehrt habe. Dieses zuvor im Vatikan aufbewahrte Bild hatte Kasper im Jahr 2004 im
Auftrag von Papst Johannes Paul II. von Rom nach Moskau gebracht. Benedikt XVI. hob
hervor, dass auch die Muslime großen Respekt vor der Gottesmutter Maria hätten.
(kna
30.05.2008 mc)
Hier finden Sie den Brief des Papstes an den russisch-orthodoxen
Patriarchen:
To His Holiness Alexis II Patriarch of Moscow
and All Russia The visit to Russia of His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper offers
me a welcome opportunity to extend my cordial greetings, to express my esteem for
your ministry in the Russian Orthodox Church and to restate my appreciation for your
commitment to fostering relations between Catholics and Orthodox. It is with joy
that I reflect on the experience of growing closeness between us, accompanied by the
shared desire to promote authentic Christian values and to witness to our Lord in
ever deeper communion. I think with gratitude of the recent visit of Your Holiness
to Strasbourg and Paris, and the warm welcome given to the Catholic Archbishop of
the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow during the Christmas celebrations last
year.
Another sign of fraternity and friendship towards the Catholic Church
is to be seen in the invitation extended to Cardinal Kasper by His Eminence Kirill,
Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, President of the Department for External
Church Affairs of the Patriarchate of Moscow, to visit that Eparchy on the occasion
of his name–day. This is not only a sign of personal goodwill, but also a gesture
towards the Catholic Church which Cardinal Kasper represents. During his time in
Russia, Cardinal Kasper will visit Kazan to venerate the icon of the Mother of God
which my beloved predecessor, Pope John Paul II, conveyed to Your Holiness through
the good offices of Cardinal Kasper, who personally accompanied the sacred image back
to its homeland. This icon bears a likeness to all the other venerable icons of the
Mother of God, and as such offers a powerful sign of the closeness which exists between
us. It also offers an opportunity for encounter with Muslims, who show great respect
for Mary, the Mother of God. Your Holiness has been increasingly committed to dialogue
with other Christians and the members of other religions, and it is with deep gratitude
that I have followed with prayerful interest the signs of friendship and trust which
your Church and its representatives have demonstrated in various ways.
With
gratitude for your commitment to dialogue with different ecclesial, religious and
social bodies, I extend in this Easter season my warmest best wishes for your ministry,
entrusting to the Lord my prayer that the great mystery of our salvation, the Death
and Resurrection of our Lord, may ever more deeply guide your life and your service
to the Church. May the Risen Saviour grant you health, peace and inner joy, and may
he bring us closer to each other, that we may undertake together our journey towards
full communion in him.