Pope's message to meeting marking Edict of Milan anniversary
Vatican City, 21 May 2013: In a message sent to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople,
Bartholomew 1st, Pope Francis says he is looking forward “in hope to the day when
the divisions of the second millennium will be definitively consigned to the past.”
The papal message was sent through the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone, to the Orthodox leader and members of the Council of European Bishops Conferences
(CCEE), who jointly organised a seminar in Istanbul marking the 1700th
anniversary of the Edict of Milan. The seminar on 17 and 18 May reflected from
different religious perspectives on the far reaching consequences of Emperor Constantine’s
decree allowing freedom of worship for Christians throughout the Roman empire. Speakers
and delegates from across Europe, including Metropolitan Hilarion from the Russian
Orthodox Church, also discussed the historical, legal and political challenges to
religious freedom on the continent today. The papal message, which was read out
to participants, says: “Pope Francis is eager that the common witness of Christ’s
disciples in Europe should help to spread the good news of salvation to the ends of
the earth. He calls on civil authorities everywhere, in the light of Constantine’s
historic decree, to respect the right of believers to worship freely and to express
their faith publicly. At the same time he invites all European citizens to recognize
the role that Christianity has played in shaping our culture, and to remain open to
the continuing contribution that Christian believers can make in this regard.” Source:
VR Eng