Historical meeting of the Pope and Patriarch

Peace Times 12

Good news for inter-religious dialogue between Catholics and the Orthodox. For the first time in nearly one thousand years, Pope John Paul II, head of the Catholic Church, was received in Rumania, at the heart of Eastern Orthodox rites.

«Rumania, one of the main Orthodox countries, has performed a gesture of opening, on the road to Christian unification», noted Ion Zabascu, a journalist and expert in religious problems for the «Free Rumania» newspaper.

The schism among Christians took place in 1054, following the excommunication of the Patriarch of Constantinople (today Istanbul), Michele Cerulario, by Pope Leon IX at the end of a long period of doctrinal disputes.

The Pontiff was received by Patriarch Teoctist in Bucharest, during the papal visit which took place in early May. The visit was marked by the achievement of a specific aim: reconciliation between the churches».