Pope Francis: RCC continues to pray for unity with the Orthodox
A Vatican delegation in the Phanar. Photo: Vatican News
On 1 December 2024, Pope Francis, in his message to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, confirmed the "irreversible commitment" of the Catholic Church to pursue the path of ecumenical dialogue with the Orthodox Church, Vatican News reports.
"Living brotherhood and the testimony given by Christians can be a message for our world, which suffers from war and violence," said Pope Francis.
Speaking about the 60th anniversary of the decree “Unitatis redintegratio”, the Pontiff stated that "dialogue with the Orthodox Church remains particularly fruitful", but emphasized that full unity, manifested in shared Eucharist, has yet to be achieved. "Catholics and Orthodox must never stop praying and working for unity," he added.
Pope Francis also expressed hope for a joint celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 2025, stressing that this would be "another opportunity to strengthen the bonds" between Christians.
As in previous years, the Vatican delegation marked the Feast of St. Andrew, the patron saint of the Church of Constantinople, together with the Patriarch of Constantinople. The guests attended the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Patriarch Bartholomew at St. George's Cathedral in the Phanar.
As reported by the UOJ, the Pope said that he will visit Turkey for the 1700th anniversary of First Council of Nicaea.
Read also
In Podgorica, multi-thousand procession held on city's patron saint day
Thousands of believers walked in a procession through the capital of Montenegro, honoring the memory of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Streaming.
Persecuted UOC parish in Zeleniv reads Great Canon
A Bukovynian Orthodox community, deprived of its church in 2024, conducts Great Lent services in an adapted facility.
Patriarch Bartholomew warns against unacceptable peace for Ukraine
The head of the Constantinople Church stated that to achieve peace in Ukraine, the leaders of nations must take the "narrow path of justice."
MinCulture opens Lavra's Near Caves only for groups and by reservation
The Ministry of Culture's statement says that "the opening of the Near Caves for believers is not only a long-awaited and outstanding event in church life but also a sign of the indestructibility of our faith".
Metropolitan Onuphry reads Great Canon at Intercession Convent of Kyiv
The Primate of the UOC led the Great Compline with the reading of the second part of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete at the capital's Intercesssion Convent.
OCU “hierarch” selling fake ID documents sent to pre-trial detention center
The Ivano-Frankivsk court has chosen a preventive measure for the OCU "bishop" suspected of issuing fictitious ordination certificates for the rank of deacon to evade mobilization.