Vatican City, Dec 8, 2005 / 22:00 pm
In a Friday meeting with Methodist Bishop Sunday Mbang of Nigeria, who was accompanied by members of the World Methodist Council, Pope Benedict expressed his hope and thanksgiving for the “patient and persevering dialogue” between Methodists and Catholics.
Bishop Mbang is the president of the World Methodist Council (WMC).
The Pope particularly thanked the representatives for "the prayerful presence and support of Methodist representatives at the funeral of Pope John Paul II and at the celebration marking the inauguration of my pontificate."
Noting the 40th anniversary of the close of the Second Vatican Council which was celebrated yesterday, Benedict recalled how Pope Paul VI had "expressed the hope that differences between Christians could be resolved, 'slowly, gradually, loyally, generously.'“