October 11, 2012
(Romereports.com) After the opening Mass of the Year of Faith Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Constantinople, recognized the significant role played by the Second Vatican Council in the path to Christian unity.
BARTHOLOMEW I
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."
Orthodox Ecumenical
Patriarch, which represents 300 million Christians, recalled the
importance of continuing to work toward deeper unity in the
path of the teachings of the Council. Bartholomew believes that the Year
of Faith and the anniversary of Vatican II are a good opportunity to go
closer to each other.
BARTHOLOMEW I
Patriarch of Constantinople
"The
door, then, must remain open for deeper reception, pastoral engagement,
and ecclesial interpretation of the Second Vatican Council."
The main leader of the Orthodox Church thanked Pope Benedict XVI for the proclamation of the Year of Faith, an initiative that seems very timely.
BARTHOLOMEW I
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 ecumenical gesture adds to the intervention of Anglican primate Rowan Williams at the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization.
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