Orthodox leader says Ukrainian patriarchate would cause problems

Published: 2004-02-02

ROME (CNS) -- If the Vatican was to recognize the patriarchate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Catholic-Orthodox relations would return to a "climate of hostility," said the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox churches. Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople wrote to Pope John Paul II to urge the pope not to elevate the status of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Patriarch Bartholomew's letter, dated Nov. 29, was posted in Greek on the patriarch's Web site, apparently before it was delivered to the Vatican. After translating the letter, the Italian Catholic magazine 30 Giorni distributed copies of its article Feb. 2 to reporters in Rome. The magazine also reported that Patriarch Bartholomew had planned to go to Rome in mid-February to inaugurate the city's new Greek Orthodox parish; Pope John Paul has given the community exclusive use of the historic St. Theodore Church on the Palatine Hill.

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