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Published
by Zenit.org,
November 17, 2005
Pope
Sees "New Stage" in Relations With
Greek Orthodox
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In
Message for Publication of Facsimile of "Menologion
of Basil II"
VATICAN
CITY, NOV. 17, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI
says that a "new stage" has been reached
in the path of reconciliation between the Catholic
Church and the Orthodox Church of Greece.
In a message to the archivist and librarian of the
Holy Roman Church, the Pope invites Orthodox
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens to the Vatican.
He also appeals to Catholics and Orthodox to work
together on the new challenges posed to the
proclamation of Christ to the contemporary world,
"which so needs it."
The Holy Father sent his message to Cardinal
Jean-Louis Tauran, on the occasion of the
publication of the facsimile of the manuscript of
the "Menologion of Basil II." The
Vatican Library collaborated with the Orthodox
Church of Greece on the project.
The "Menologion of Basil II," a
liturgical and hagiographic text of the Church of
Greek rite composed around 985, is a masterpiece
of Byzantine art. The manuscript of it is kept in
the Vatican Apostolic Library.
The papal message was read Wednesday during the
presentation of the Menologion in Athens'
Byzantine Museum.
The Holy Father expressed his
"satisfaction" with this achievement,
which, he said, is the "fruit of the new
relations that have been interwoven after the
unforgettable visit of my venerated predecessor,
His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Athens, on the
occasion of his jubilee pilgrimage in the
footsteps of St. Paul," in May 2001.
Cooperation
On that occasion, John Paul II asked for
forgiveness for the offenses committed by
Catholics against the Orthodox in the course of
history.
"It makes me profoundly happy to see that an
ever more active cooperation is developing between
the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of
Greece," said Benedict XVI in his message.
The Pontiff requested the French cardinal, a
former Vatican secretary for relations with
states, "to transmit to His Beatitude
Christodoulos the joy it would give me to welcome
him in Rome to manifest together that a new stage
has been reached in the path of reconciliation and
cooperation."
John Paul II invited Archbishop Christodoulos to
visit Rome in 2004, but the trip could not be
undertaken given the opposition of a good part of
the Greek Orthodox Synod.
Benedict XVI told Cardinal Tauran in his message:
"Attest to my heartfelt desire to develop
with ever more intensity relations of trust and
fraternity between us to work together in the
numerous challenges of evangelization."
Help Europe
In particular, the Pope said that they could
"with greater force help European nations to
reaffirm their Christian roots to again find the
sap that nourishes and fertilizes the future
itself for the good of persons and of the whole of
society."
"It will be a way of proclaiming together the
Good News of Christ to the contemporary world,
which so needs it," the Holy Father stated.
In the message, the Pope also requested Cardinal
Tauran to transmit his greetings to the president
of the Greek republic, Karolos Papoulias, a
country in which there is no Church-state
separation, and to the Catholic bishops.
About 98% of Greece's 10.6 million inhabitants are
Orthodox.
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