Pope encourages Ukraine's Catholic rites to coordinate programs

Published: 2007-09-24

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI urged Ukraine's Eastern- and Latin-rite bishops to meet regularly to coordinate pastoral programs and further ecumenical relations with the Orthodox churches. The pope said meeting at least once a year would give bishops from both rites a chance to plan ways to make their pastoral work "ever more harmonious and effective. I am convinced that fraternal cooperation between pastors will be an encouragement and stimulus for all (Catholic) faithful to grow in unity and apostolic enthusiasm and will also foster a fruitful ecumenical dialogue" with the Orthodox, Pope Benedict said in a Sept. 24 audience with 22 Ukrainian bishops from both rites. The Ukrainian Catholic Church, an Eastern rite, is fully in union with Rome but has maintained the liturgical and spiritual heritage shared with the Orthodox churches. The Latin-rite bishops were in Rome for their "ad limina" visits, in which they travel to the Vatican every five years to report on the status of their dioceses. Vatican Radio reported that although Eastern bishops are not required to make "ad limina" visits, Pope Benedict invited some of Eastern-rite bishops because he wanted to discuss the issue of cooperation between the two rites.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .