2013-12-07 08:19:53

Cardinal Koch visits Romania to deepen dialogue with Orthodox


(Vatican Radio) The head of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, concludes a visit to Romania on Saturday, aimed at deepening the ecumenical dialogue with the Orthodox Church there.
During the five day trip, the Cardinal held talks with Romanian President Traian Basescu and other government officials in the capital, Bucharest, before travelling on to towns in the centre and north west of the former Soviet state. He celebrated Mass with leaders and faithful from both the Greek Catholic and Latin rite communities which number around five percent of the largely Orthodox nation.
Among the highlights of the visit was a meeting on Wednesday with the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel, during which the two leaders were able to discuss recent progress in relations between their two Churches. Also attending that encounter was Metropolitan Nifon of Targoviste, who told us the visit has had a positive impact on the ecumenical dialogue:

Listen to Marie Duhamel's interview with Metropolitan Nifon: RealAudioMP3

The Orthodox leaders says the Cardinal's visit is something that "really consolidates our relationships"......he explains that the main focus of discussions today is between the Western understanding of primacy and the Eastern vision of sinodality or collegiality.....

Refering to Pope Francis' intentions to bring greater collegiality into the running of the Catholic Church, Metropolitian Nifon says "This is wonderful news for the Eastern Orthodox Churches……








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