In the "multi-religious context" of Caucasus, "it is important that the Catholics will continue and expand their cooperation with the other Churches" and "with the followers of other religions": this is the exhortation made today by Benedict XVI to the bishops of the Caucasian region on their visit ad limina, whom he received in audience. In recalling the "social changes" that followed the fall of the Soviet Union, the Pope noticed that "many social and cultural challenges remain" and that "the Catholic community is a ‘small herd’" in contact with Orthodox, Armenian-Apostolic, Jewish and Muslim people. "Then you must prevent warned the Pontiff that, where Communism failed to erode the Catholic identity, treacherous forms of pressure may undermine someone’s feeling of ecclesial belonging. So I join the aspiration of your Catholic communities, that they may be recognised their legal status, respectful of the very nature of the Catholic Church". In addition, the wish "that, following the current talks between Catholics and Orthodox, that fraternity, which should be distinctive of the relations between Churches that respect each other, may grow, despite the differences that still exist" and, "when faced with difficulties, the joy of professing faith and belonging to the Catholic Church may never fail!".
