More from France... and the French
Aug 08, 2007
Technically retired, the Cardinal Vice-Dean Roger Etchegaray continues serving as an informal legate at the Pope's behest. Earlier today, the veteran Vatican hand, who turns 85 next month, came even closer to securing B16 one of the pontiff's A-list wishes -- a meeting with the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II:
(Whispers in the Loggia, 07/08/2007)
Technically retired, the Cardinal Vice-Dean Roger Etchegaray continues serving as an informal legate at the Pope's behest. Earlier today, the veteran Vatican hand, who turns 85 next month, came even closer to securing B16 one of the pontiff's A-list wishes -- a meeting with the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II:
The sides are progressing towards this goal, and the pace is accelerating, but the Roman Church cannot make it happen quicker, [Etchegaray] said.
The Patriarch and the Pope are thinking about this meeting, but it must be held in truth and sincerity, it should not be populist and should be held when the conditions have been created for it, he said.
Orthodox believers and Catholics should hold a profound dialogue and the meeting between the Pope and Alexy II should express the profoundness of these relations, he said.
Alexy II recognizes that many efforts have been made to improve interaction between the two churches, he said.
The relations between the two churches have become warmer, yet they have never been cold. Personal relations with the Patriarch are a good example for interaction between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, he said.
More from France... and the French