Greetings from Pope Francis to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the feast of Saint Andrew emphasize the importance of unity among Christians, serving as a model for a world plagued by war and violence.
By Lisa Zengarini
On the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, Pope Francis continues the tradition by sending a delegation to Istanbul to convey his fraternal affection to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, patron saint of Constantinople. This exchange of delegations between the Holy See and the Patriarchate on their respective patronal feasts strengthens the bond between Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
In his message, Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of listening without condemning as a path towards unity and hopes that the upcoming celebrations of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea will further strengthen their fraternal relations developed over six decades.
60 years of fruitful dialogue
Pope Francis acknowledges the progress made in Catholic-Orthodox dialogue since the Catholic Church’s entry into the ecumenical movement in 1964. He highlights the renewed fraternity experienced today and the ongoing commitment to achieving full communion despite the millennium-old divisions.
The ultimate goal of full communion
While acknowledging the challenges in achieving full Eucharistic communion, Pope Francis urges Catholics and Orthodox to continue praying and working towards unity, emphasizing the need to accept the divine gift of unity.
A synodal approach to ecumenical dialogue
The Pope recalls the Catholic Church’s commitment to dialogue and highlights the recent Synod on synodality as a model for listening without judgment or condemnation, urging Catholics and Orthodox to continue their journey towards unity in the same spirit.
Christian dialogue as a model for today’s divided world
Pope Francis sees the upcoming celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea as an opportunity to strengthen bonds and offer renewed testimony in today’s world. He emphasizes that the fraternity and witness of Christians can serve as a model for a world facing war and violence, expressing hopes for peace in conflict regions.
The Vatican delegation
Cardinal Kurt Koch led the Vatican delegation to deliver the Pope’s message to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The delegation included senior officials of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey, reaffirming the commitment to unity and dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
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