The special memory

In the framework of delegation exchange during respective patronal festivals (on June 29th in Rome for the celebration of Saints Peter and Paul, and on November 30th in Istanbul for the celebration of St. Andrew), Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Papal Council for the Unity of Christians, left to Istanbul this morning, heading a delegation of the Holy See. Msgr. Brian Farrell, secretary of the ministry, and Reverend Father Vladimiro Caroli of the Oriental Section are part of that delegation. In Istanbul, the apostolic nuncio of Ankara, Msgr. Antonio Lucibello, will join them. As it happens every year, tomorrow the delegates of the Holy Father – it is written in a note by the Papal Council for the Unity of the Christians – are participating in the Divine Liturgy of the Fanar patriarchal church, presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. The visit will imply a meeting with Bartholomew I as well as conversations with the Synodal Commission entrusted with the relations with the Catholic Church. During them, they will also talk about the works of the “International Mixed Commission” for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. Recently, the Commission published the “Document of Ravenna” on the conciliarity and authority of the Church. The Vatican delegation will then take part in the meal offered by the Patriarch, and in the reception which is taking place in the afternoon, in the presence of other representatives of the Orthodox Churches.“AN HISTORICAL VISIT”. According to the programme, Card. Walter Kasper, president of the Papal Council for promoting the union of the Christians, is giving a message by Pope Benedict XVI to Patriarch Bartholomew I. The cardinal will read it at the end of the Divine Liturgy, which will be celebrated in Istanbul during the Festival of St. Andrew, in the Church of Saint George at Phanar. “This year, the delegation of the Holy See – it is written in a note made known today by the Vatican ministry – will have a special task: bringing the special memory of the Holy Father in the first anniversary of his historical visit to Turkey, and of his meeting with his Oriental Brother”. To point out this anniversary, the Pope gives the Patriarch a precious reproduction of “The Mystic Lamb” from the vault of the Basilica of San Vitale, in Ravenna (VI century). The mosaic – specially ordered for the circumstance by the Archdiocese of Ravenna – was carried out in accordance with the Byzantine tradition of Ravenna, and evokes the meeting of Benedict XVI and Bartholomew on November 30th, 2006, through a silver inscription. “Owing to the subject of the work and the collocation of its original – said the Vatican ministry, – the gift hints at the recent plenary meeting of the Commission for Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue”, hosted by Archbishop of Ravenna, Msgr. Giuseppe Verucchi. “A SPECIAL OCCASION”. Every year, during the festival of Saint Andrew, the Ecumenical Patriarchate uses to receive a delegation of the Holy See. “However, this year the celebration will especially recall the historical visit which Pope Benedict XVI made last year, on November 30th, to the Ecumenical Patriarchate”. Therefore, this year’s celebration and the presence of the delegation of the Holy See represent “a special occasion to recall this first anniversary”. With those words, Archmandrite Reverend ELPIDOPHOROS , head of the Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, described the atmosphere with which the festival of Saint Andrew is going to be celebrated tomorrow, at the Church of Saint George at Phanar. The visit of Benedict XVI – said the archmandrite to SIR – was “a visit which opened new horizons to cooperation between the two Churches. And the first outcome of this collaboration came from theological dialogue, with the agreement text subscribed in Ravenna. Tomorrow’s appointment is part of that dialogue path, and the intention is to go on in that direction”. “Continuing dialogue” and the “Document of Ravenna”: the archimandrite pointed out that His Holiness Bartholomew I “confirmed the existence and the commitment to keep good relationships between the two Churches”, pointing out “personal contacts” as well as “the cordial atmosphere between the hierarchies of the two Churches”, in Rome and all over the world”. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. After the publication of the “Document of Ravenna” on the conciliarity and the authority of the Church, Rome and Constantinople are looking to the future of dialogue with “sentiments of hope”. It is written in a note made known on November 29th by the Papal Council for the promotion of the unity of Christians, while presenting the delegation of the Holy See, at the celebration of the festival of Saint Andrew, at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “The seats of Rome and Constantinople – wrote the Papal Council, – after dedicating themselves, in many ways, to reopening theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches, look to the plenary meeting of Ravenna with sentiments of hope. The document voted at the end of the meeting can actually encourage future dialogue, and makes up the first step towards the analysis of those crucial subjects which impede the full communion of Western and Eastern Christians”.