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benedict xvi" "

“To the successor of the Prince of the Apostles we express filial devotion and pledge him the affection and constant support in prayer of all Italian Catholics”, declare the Italian bishops in a communiqué in which they thank “God for the gift made to the Church today in the form of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict […]

A joy and an honour for all Germans: these are the most common feelings expressed by the highest civil and religious authorities of Germany on hearing the news that their distinguished compatriot, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, had been elected Pope by the 115 cardinals of all continents. Here are some immediate reactions. The good wishes of […]

“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 – […]

“In the joy of the Risen Lord and with profound gratitude we have welcomed your election as Vicar of Christ and our Pope”. So begins the letter of congratulations that the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (Ccee) has sent to Benedict XVI on the occasion of his election. The letter, signed by the president […]

Comece: “Europe close to the Pope’s heart” “We know that the well-being of Europe is very close to the Holy Father’s heart. Long before the start of his pontificate, he reflected on the concept and on the reality of Europe and has always taken a stance on its concrete challenges, for example on the development […]

After having qualified John Paul II, the adjective ‘conservative’, with everything narrow it comprises, has now been attributed to his successor, this time aggravated by a pejorative co-efficient: “hyper-conservative”. Once the first reaction of nervousness always caused by this kind of reduction of the mission of the Pope to politico-social debates (in which a person […]

benedict xvi" "

Let us try to imagine the hopes that Benedict XVI entertains about Europe. The new Pope hopes that European Christians accept him with the eyes of faith and not those of politics or any other alignments. The Pope, before the call of Jesus, does not exist; only in the moment in which he is chosen, […]

“Le prime parole di Benedetto XVI erano per ‘il grande Papa Giovanni Paolo II’, che ha sollevato una così forte speranza nella famiglia umana. A Taizé, noi preghiamo perché il nuovo Papa continui l’eccezionale ministero di pace e di comunione di Giovanni Paolo II”. È quanto ha dichiarato frère Roger, fondatore della comunità ecumenica di […]

“Auguriamo a Benedetto XVI ogni benedizione perché possa affrontare la responsabilità che deriva da un così alto incarico. La sua elezione ha un grande significato per tutti i cristiani”. Così il primate anglicano, arcivescovo di Canterbury, Rowan Williams, ha salutato l’elezione di Joseph Ratzinger a papa con il nome di Benedetto XVI, con la speranza […]

CHIESE CRISTIANE EUROPEE" "

“Come afferma la Charta Oecumenica, non c’è alternativa al dialogo”. È il “cuore” del messaggio che Keith Clements rivolge al nuovo Papa a nome della Conferenza delle Chiese europee che riunisce in Europa le chiese protestanti, ortodosse, anglicane e vetero-cattoliche. “I cardinali che lo hanno eletto – scrive il segretario generale della Kek – hanno […]