Vatican City, Sep 19, 2007 / 09:11 am
The Holy Father has sent a message to the 10th Inter-Christian Symposium, dedicated to dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox. Pope Benedict XVI said that although Christian unity is not yet perfect, we all look with hope towards “the blessed day” of full communion in order to celebrate the one Eucharist.
The ecumenical initiative, organized every two years by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality of the Pontifical Antonianum University and by the Department of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessalonica, seeks to flesh out the common heritage of the faith and traditions between Catholics and Orthodox.
The theme of this year’s symposium is “St. John Chrysostom: Bridge Between East and West" and coincides with the 1600th anniversary of the death of the saint, considered a doctor of the Church both in the East and the West.
The Holy Father said the symposium would contribute to “to upholding and corroborating the real -- though imperfect -- communion that exists between Catholics and Orthodox, so that we may reach that fullness which will one day enable us to concelebrate the one Eucharist.” “And it is to that blessed day that we all look with hope, organizing practical initiatives such as this one,” the Pope added.