” “The Feast of Saint Andrew, on November 30th, "offered the perfect occasion to strengthen the brotherly ties between the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of Peter, and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople”. This was highlighted by Benedict XVI, in the general audience, this morning, focussed on his recent journey to Turkey. Speaking of the meetings between the patriarchs of Constantinople and his predecessors Paul VI and John Paul II, Benedict XVI stated that he "renewed, with His Holiness Bartholomew I, this gesture of great symbolic value to confirm the mutual commitment to move on along the way to the restoration of full communion between the Catholics and the Orthodox”. “In order to ratify such firm intention went on the Pope , I signed with the Ecumenical Patriarch a Common Declaration that is one further step along this path”. The same applies to "the double Blessing given by the Bishop of Rome and by the Patriarch of Constantinople, the successors of the apostles Peter and Andrew, respectively". "May Turkey be a bridge of friendship and fraternal cooperation between the West and the East": this is the final wish entrusted by Benedict XVI to his prayers. ” “
