“Reciprocal personal acquaintance”, the “exchange of information” and “frank dialogue” are the essential conditions “for a collaboration that may permit Catholics and Orthodox to offer together a living witness of their common Christian heritage” in Europe. So said the Pope on receiving in audience the members of the delegation of the Orthodox Church of Greece, led by the Metropolitan of Attica, Panteleimon, on Monday 11 March. A positive comment on the visit was also expressed by the president of the Greek Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Nicola Foscolos, Catholic archbishop of Athens. “Of course writes Foscolos in a statement one visit cannot resolve all the problems accumulated during a period of over a millennium. But personal contacts are capable of removing age-old prejudices. Thanks to these contacts, an occasion is given, and a chance provided, for ever deeper reciprocal understanding between the two Churches, which may begin a dialogue advantageous to both sides”. “Collaboration between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches concludes the president of the Greek bishops is more than ever necessary today. I hope that this visit of the Greek Orthodox delegation to the Holy See and to the Church of Rome will have positive consequences for us, as the local Catholic Church, so that collaboration between our Churches may begin here too in Greece”.
