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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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ISTANBUL, Turkey -- In a momentous gesture of filial love and respect for their respective churches, Pope Benedict XVI and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the first Bishop of the entire Orthodox Church worldwide, signed a significant Common Declaration.
The two Prelates recalled with gratitude their predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, as well as Ecumenical Patriarchs Athenagoras and Dimitrios, who lead the path towards the reconciliation (abatement) of the two churches, through their meetings and mutual visits, as well as the lifting of the 11th century anathemas between Rome and Constantinople. They call on (implore) the faithful of both Churches to strengthen their prayers and endeavors towards the unity of the Churches.
The signing of the declaration by the two “peacemakers” and "bridge builders" of Apostolic Christendom in the Throne Room of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is the focal point of Pope Benedict XVI's three-day visit to the primary ecclesiastical center of the Orthodox Christian Church.
The declaration was signed on the occasion of the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle, who traveled across Asia Minor and is the founder of the Christian Church in present-day Istanbul, which later became the first ecclesiastical Throne in the Christian East.
Both hierarchs are noted throughout the world for their efforts to create bridges of truth and love across religious, ethnic, environmental, and political divides. The document is considered a powerful symbol of ecclesiastical solidarity.
The signing of the mutual statement continues a tradition which began in 1964 when Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras met in Jerusalem and later in Istanbul and Rome for the purpose of deepening the renewed relationship between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches.
The three-day meeting between Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Benedict XVI follows a recent meeting of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the two churches last September.
Following the celebration of the Liturgy, the Pope and his entourage sat at the formal luncheon in the headquarters (the Patriarchal House) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
(Note: For more information, please log on to www.patriarchate.org)
Thursday, November 30, 2006
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ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Benedict XVI walked alongside each other amid the sound of church bells after a day of worship, ecumenical dialogue, and fraternal embrace.
In a mutual statement of ecclesiastical solidarity, the two Church leaders renewed their commitment to work towards the restoration of Full Communion between the two Churches.
His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s gift to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was an ancient book of the Gospels (the first four books of the New Testament).
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ISTANBUL Turkey -- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew paid a reciprocal visit to the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul today where he was welcomed by Pope Benedict XVI.
The two leaders joined in a procession into the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit where the Pope celebrated the Liturgy for the Roman Catholic community of Istanbul. During the Liturgy the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew exchanged a kiss of peace and offered a common blessing to the faithful.
Also in attendance for the Roman Catholic Liturgy were the heads of the other Christian Communities of the city.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, built in 1846 under the direction of Italian architect Julien Hillereau, is located near the Beyoglu District of Istanbul. The statute of one of the Pope's predecessors with the same name, Benedict XV, stands in the courtyard of the cathedral.
(Note: For more information, please log on to www.patriarchate.org)
Friday, December 1, 2006
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(Ps 117:24)
This fraternal encounter which brings us together, Pope Benedict XVI of Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, is God’s work, and in a certain sense his gift. We give thanks to the Author of all that is good, who allows us once again, in prayer and in dialogue, to express the joy we feel as brothers and to renew our commitment to move towards full communion. This commitment comes from the Lord’s will and from our responsibility as Pastors in the Church of Christ. May our meeting be a sign and an encouragement to us to share the same sentiments and the same attitudes of fraternity, cooperation and communion in charity and truth. The Holy Spirit will help us to prepare the great day of the re-establishment of full unity, whenever and however God wills it. Then we shall truly be able to rejoice and be glad.
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OFFICE OF PAPAL LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS
APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS
BENEDICT XVI
TO TURKEY
(NOVEMBER 28 - DECEMBER 1, 2006)
PRESENTATION
1. The Significance of the Apostolic Journey
In the footsteps of his predecessors Paul VI and John Paul II, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has chosen to honour the land of Turkey with one of the first Apostolic Journeys of his Pontificate. Turkey is spread over a vast region which, not without reason, has been called “the Holy Land of the Church”. It was there that the Christian community, particularly in the great centres of Antioch and Ephesus, became conscious of her identity and consolidated her growth. There the Church opened out to the ancient world in a process of inculturation and adaptation which made her truly “catholic”, open to all cultural expressions. Furthermore, this land was the starting-point for the first evangelization of both the Far East and the Slav peoples.
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Most Reverend and Reverend Bishops!
Clergy, Religious, and LaityPeace in the Lord!
Dearly beloved in Christ! With God’s help, we have lived to this year’s feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. On this occasion, so solemn and joyful, I wish to greet all of you - to greet those who celebrate this occasion in their homeland, to greet those who live in places where our Church has its own developed structure, and to greet those who are residing where there is no formal presence of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Whatsoever the circumstances of your life may be, I sincerely greet all of you!