Cardinal says Vatican, Orthodox reps to meet to set dialogue agenda

Published: 2005-10-25

ROME (CNS) -- Orthodox and Vatican representatives will meet in Rome in early December to establish a theme and agenda for the first meeting of the churches' international theological commission in more than five years, said Cardinal Walter Kasper. The cardinal, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said "the ice is thawing" in relations with the Russian Orthodox Church and is proceeding well with 14 other Orthodox churches. Cardinal Kasper spoke Oct. 24 to reporters at Rome's foreign press club about the Catholic Church's commitment to dialogue as well as about topics raised during the Oct. 2-23 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. While pointing to progress in discussions with the Russian Orthodox, Cardinal Kasper said it is unlikely that Pope Benedict XVI and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow will meet within the next year. Although such a meeting was "the desire" of Pope John Paul II and is "the hope" of Pope Benedict, the cardinal said he saw no quick way to meet the conditions set by the Russian Orthodox for a meeting.

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