Progress seen in Orthodox-Catholic relations
Jul 12, 2006
Progress has been made in advancing the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue said Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and leader of the Catholic delegation to the Moscow World Religious Summit.
Moscow, July 3, Interfax - Cardinal Kasper told Interfax in Moscow that there were apparent historical aspects that divide the two religions, but he noted that mutual efforts were being made to overcome these problems.
Both churches have quite a few things in common, he continued. The two churches share and recognize each other's sacraments, they share the Holy Tradition and have many common saints, he said.
Cardinal Kasper said he was convinced that the Orthodox and Catholic churches must be together and jointly deal with present-day challenges in the secular world, as well as challenges from other religions in an inter-religious dialogue.
Among the indirect signs of positive change in relations between the two churches is the Vatican's decision to send a representative delegation to the World Religious Summit opening in Moscow on Monday, he said.
Cardinal Kasper also said he hopped a bilateral meeting with representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate would be organized to discuss the current problems in relations between the two churches, including with head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.
Progress seen in Orthodox-Catholic relations