Pope praises Russian patriarch for commitment to dialogue

Published: 2008-05-30

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI praised the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church for his commitment to dialogue and fostering relations between Catholics and Orthodox. "It is with joy that I reflect on the experience of growing closeness between us, accompanied by the shared desire to promote authentic Christian values and to witness to Our Lord in ever deeper communion," he told Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow. The pope's comments came in a letter delivered to the patriarch May 29 by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The cardinal was in Russia May 21-30 at the invitation of Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, president of the Russian Orthodox Church's office for ecumenical relations. A copy of the pope's letter, dated May 19, was released by the Vatican May 30.

Copyright (c) 2008 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .