Pope's Letter to Bartholomew I at Return of Relics

"A Blessed Opportunity to Reinforce Our Path of Reconciliation"

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 29, 2004 (Zenit) - Here is a translation of the letter John Paul II addressed to Orthodox Patriarch , on the occasion of the return the relics of Sts. Gregory Nazianzen and John Chrysostom during an ecumenical celebration Saturday in St. Peter's Basilica.

* * *

To the Beloved Brother Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Constantinople:

1. Very vivid in my heart is the joy of our meeting in the atrium of this Vatican basilica on June 29 of this year, on the occasion of the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. And now the Lord, in his benevolence, again gives us the possibility to live here, before the tomb of the Apostle Peter, another fraternal meeting in love, in prayer, and in the determination to walk together toward that full and visible unity that Christ wills for his disciples.

This opportunity is offered to us by our common veneration of the relics of Sts. Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, two Fathers of the Church of the East, two holy patriarchs of Constantinople, two Doctors of the Church who, together with St. Basil the Great, have always been honored with a feast in the Catholic Church. And we, every time that "we meet with these our Fathers, we are confirmed in the faith and encouraged in hope" (apostolic letter "Patres Ecclesiae," No. 1).

2. Now, some of their relics -- remains of those bodies that lived the following of Christ, suffered persecution for his Name, and were temples of the Holy Spirit -- return to Constantinople.

In handing back these very holy relics we perceive a blessed opportunity to purify our wounded memories, to reinforce our path of reconciliation, to confirm that the faith of these holy Doctors of ours is the faith of the Churches of East and West. We see, at the same time, the propitious hour "to show in word and deed today the immense riches that our Churches preserve in the coffers of their traditions" ("Orientale Lumen," No. 4).

This is the "propitious moment" to unite to their intercession our prayer so that the Lord will hasten the hour in which we will be able to live together, in the celebration of the holy Eucharist, full communion, and thus contribute in a more effective manner to make the world believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord.

3. Beloved Brother, I will never cease to seek firmly and determinedly this communion among the disciples of Christ, as my desire, in response to the will of the Lord, consists in being servant of communion "in truth and in love so that the ship -- that beautiful symbol which the World Council of Churches has chosen as its emblem -- will not be buffeted by the storms and will one day reach its haven."

The Lord, who comes among his saints (see Zechariah 14:5), confirm our aims and preserve us in the daily commitment of the fulfilling of the new commandment. In the patience of Christ and in the charity of God, with brotherly affection.

From the Vatican, November 27, 2004

IOANNES PAULUS II

Contact

The Vatican
http://www.catholic.org , VA
Pope John Paul II - Bishop of Rome, 661 869-1000

Email

info@yourcatholicvoice.org

Keywords

Pope, Patriarch, Bartholomew I, Relics, Saints

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,718

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• »