ZE09051508 – 2009-05-15
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Pop e Meets With Greek Orthodox, Armenian Churches
Expresses Joy at Signs of Ecumenical Unity
JERUSALEM, MAY 15, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI met with
representatives of Christian communities in the Holy Land, and is
affirming the Catholic Church’s desire to work toward common goals of
unity.
The Pope said this today, the final day of his Holy Land pilgrimage,
in the presence of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of
Jerusalem and All Palestine, Theophilus III, in an ecumenical meeting
at the patriarchate.
The Pontiff expressed the hope that the meeting will "give new impetus
to the work of theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and
the Orthodox Churches, adding to the recent fruits of study documents
and other joint initiatives."
"Such ecumenical experience bears clear witness to the link between
the unity of the Church and her mission," he noted.
The Holy Father affirmed the necessity of the witness of Christian
communities, to testify to "what our faith proclaims: the eternal
Word, who entered space and time in this land, Jesus of Nazareth, who
walked these streets, through his words and actions calls people of
every age to his life of truth and love."
Benedict XVI recognized the work of the community leaders who meet
regularly together, and encouraged them in the task of upbringing and
educating "a further generation of well-formed and committed
Christians."
"This common pastoral concern," he added, "will ensure that your
regular meetings are marked by the wisdom and fraternal charity
necessary to support one another and to engage with both the joys and
the particular difficulties which mark the lives of your people."
The Pope expressed a prayer that "the aspirations of the Christians of
Jerusalem will be understood as being concordant with the aspirations
of all its inhabitants, whatever their religion: a life of religious
freedom and peaceful coexistence and — for young people in particular
— unimpeded access to education and employment, the prospect of
suitable housing and family residency, and the chance to benefit from
and contribute to economic stability."
Significant growth
After this meeting, the Pontiff went to visit the Holy Sepulcher
nearby, and then went to the Armenian Apostolic patriarchal church of
St. James.
In the presence of Archbishop Torkom II Manoukian and members of the
Armenian Church, the Holy Father affirmed that the meeting "is another
step along the path towards the unity which the Lord desires for all
his disciples."
He acknowledged the recent "significant growth in the relationship
between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church,"
thanking the latter for its commitment in furthering theological
dialogue between the former and the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Benedict XVI recalled his previous visits with Karekin II, Catholicos
of All Armenians, and Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians.
He continued, "A particular sign of hope is the recent document on the
nature and mission of the Church produced by the Mixed Commission and
presented to the Churches for study and evaluation."
The Pope entrusted this effort to prayer "so that it can bear abundant
fruit for the growth of Christian unity."
After the meeting, he departed Jerusalem for Tel Aviv airport, where
he bade farewell to the Holy Land leaders and boarded a plane for
Rome.
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full text of address at Greek Orthodox patriarchate:
nglish
Full text of address at Armenian patriarchate:
nglish