” ” ” “SIR – 01/12/2006 "The Spirit is the lasting source of our faith and our unity". This was said by Benedict XVI at Mass, which he officiated in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, to mark the end of his apostolic journey in Turkey. "In this Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, I wish to thank God for all that He has accomplished through the history of men and invoke above all the gifts of the Spirit of holiness", these were the words of the Pope, who at the beginning of the homily greeted the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, and the Armenian Patriarch, Mesrob II, expressing to such "revered brothers" his "deep gratitude for this fraternal gesture that honours the whole Catholic community". "I greet you all with joy", then said the Holy Father to the leaders of the other church communities and religions and recalled "the many witnesses of the Gospel of Christ that urge us to join forces for the unity of all His disciples, in truth and love". "We are blessed when the Holy Spirit opens us up to the joy of believing and when He lets us into the big family of the Christians, His Church, so manifold in the variety of the gifts, functions and activities, and at the same time already one", said the Pope, according to whom "living according to the Spirit does not mean living only for oneself".
