October 11, 2012. (Romereports.com) After the opening Mass of the Year of Faith Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, recognized the significant role played by the Second Vatican Council in the path to Christian unity.
BARTHOLOMEW I Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople "We have appreciated the struggle toward gradual liberation from the limitation of rigid scholasticism to the openness of ecumenical encounter, which has led to the mutual rescinding of the excommunications of the year 1054, the exchange of greetings, the return of relics, the beginning of important dialogues, and visiting each other in our respective Sees."
The Ecumenical Patriarch, who represents 300 million orthodox Christians, recalled the importance of continuing to work toward deeper unity in the path of the teachings set out by the Second Vatican Council. Bartholomew believes that the Year of Faith and the anniversary of Vatican II offer a good opportunity to draw closer to each other.
BARTHOLOMEW I Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople "The door, then, must remain open for deeper reception, pastoral engagement, and ecclesial interpretation of the Second Vatican Council."
The Ecumenical Patriarch thanked Pope Benedict XVI for the proclamation of the Year of Faith, for this very timely initiative.
BARTHOLOMEW I Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople "It is fitting that this occasion also marks for your Church the formal inauguration of the “Year of Faith”, as it is faith that provides a visible sign of the journey we have traveled together along the path of reconciliation and visible unity.”
This latest ecumenical gesture followed that of Anglican primate Rowan Williams, who spoke at the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization.
October 11, 2012. (Romereports.com) After the opening Mass of the Year of Faith Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, recognized the significant role played by the Second Vatican Council in the path to Christian unity.
