This afternoon, Rome will be the first stop of the "ecumenical pilgrimage" that will lead the European Churches, after the Assemblies of Basel (1989) and Graz (1997), to the third Ecumenical Assembly due in Sibiu, Romania, from September 4th to 8th 2007, about: "The light of Christ lights up everyone. Hope for the renewal and unity of Europe". The meeting presented this morning to the press and organised by the Council of the European Bishops Conferences (Ccee) and by the Conference of the European Churches (Kek) will be attended by 150 delegates from 44 European countries on behalf of about 40 Churches, 34 Bishops Conferences and 50 Confederations, Alliances, ecumenical bodies, movements and associations dealing with ecumenical dialogue. The delegates will be welcomed by the representatives of the Italian Churches: cardinal Camillo Ruini on behalf of the Catholic Church, Gianni Long, on behalf of the Evangelical Churches, and the Metropolitan Bishop Gennadios on behalf of the Orthodox. "We are in Rome said this morning at the press conference mgr. Aldo Giordano, Secretary General of Ccee to rediscover the Christianity of the origins, as testified by the apostles Peter and Paul and by the martyrs". During the Roman days, the 150 delegates will meet Benedict XVI twice: tomorrow at 5.30 pm, in the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le mura, at the Vespers which will be celebrated by the Pope to mark the end of the Week of Prayer for the Unity of Christians, and Thursday at 12.00 am for a private meeting. (to be continued)
