“As the Charta Oecumenica affirms, there is no alternative to dialogue”. That is the “heart” of the message that Keith Clements addresses to the new Pope on behalf of the Conference of European Churches, a fellowship that represents the Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and Old Catholic churches of Europe. “The cardinals who have elected him writes the Cec General Secretary have chosen a person of forceful personality and intellectual ability to lead their Church into a future which poses many challenges within that Church, both in relations with the other Christian Churches and with the world at large”. “As Cardinal Ratzinger Clements continues Pope Benedict XVI has long been known to ecumenical circles, in Europe and beyond”. The European Christian Churches ask the new pope to share their belief that “the way to a deeper apprehension of the truth lies in dialogue that is honest, humbly respectful of the positions and insights of others, and open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit who, as promised by our Lord himself, will lead us into all truth”.
