Vatican City, Nov 29, 2005 / 22:00 pm
As the Eastern Orthodox Church today celebrates the Feast of its patron St. Andrew, Pope Benedict took the opportunity to encourage further reconciliation between the separated faithful and show his appreciation for recent strides for communion.
Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is currently heading a Holy See delegation which is in Istanbul, Turkey for the celebration.
Traditionally, just as a Vatican delegation travels yearly to Istanbul for the November 30th feast, the ecumenical patriarchate annually sends a delegation to Rome on June 29th, for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
The Feast of St. Andrew is commemorated by both the eastern and western churches.