Phanar: Full unity of Catholics and Orthodox is down the stretch

Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: fraza.com

According to the hierarch of Phanar, the unity of Orthodox and Catholics at the level of believers has already been achieved, and the unification is guided by the Holy Spirit.

Metropolitan of Italy and Exarch of Southern Europe of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Polycarpo (Stavropoulos), said that the movement of Catholics and Orthodox Christians towards complete unity is nearing the finish line, according to the Vatican News website.

In an interview with the publication, Metropolitan Polycarpo noted that the "gestures" of the head of Phanar, Patriarch Bartholomew, and Pope Francis “are increasingly moving towards complete unity, starting with common sentiments: promoting peace, interreligious dialogue, protecting creation and those in need, for example, refugees, at the same time bearing in mind the pandemic-caused emergencies."

He stressed that Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew are “two people who have the same thoughts and feelings,” and “they realize that they must act together for the benefit of humanity, which has recently become even more concerned about the health crisis and economic crisis, triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.”

According to Phanar hierarch, "the path of Catholics and Orthodox Christians to complete unity is under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and is approaching the finish line." He is confident that "this goal has already been achievedat the level of believers," and "this is more important than at the institutional level."

Metropolitan Polycarpo also believes that today “relativism, indifference, pessimism, the idea of superficial unity, administrative-institutional unity, secularism, and possible geopolitical games” can threaten the path to unity between Catholics and the Orthodox.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Phanar hierarch called the Pope his patriarch and beloved father.

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