Pope declares desire to restore "full communion" with Constantinople
The head of the Vatican confirmed the course toward achieving full unity with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Pope Leo XIV declared his intention to continue efforts to restore "full communion" with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. He made this statement on June 28 at the Vatican during a meeting with the official delegation from the Phanar, which had arrived in Rome for the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, reports catholicworldreport.
Addressing the delegation led by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon (Adamakis), the pontiff emphasized that his goal remains "the restoration of full and visible communion between our Churches." He also noted that he is open to proposals from the Patriarchate of Constantinople regarding the further development of dialogue.
Pope Leo stated that "after centuries of disagreements and misunderstandings," genuine dialogue between the two Churches became possible only through "the bold and far-sighted steps taken by Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras."
The head of the Roman Catholic Church emphasized "the witness of sincere closeness" that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has always shown toward the Catholic Church, which was particularly evident in his participation in the funeral of Pope Francis and subsequently in the inaugural Mass of the new Bishop of Rome.
The following day, representatives of the Phanar took part in the solemn Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. After the service, Pope Leo XIV and Metropolitan Emmanuel descended together to the tomb of the Apostle Peter, where they offered a joint prayer.
Furthermore, the pontiff expressed hope that all Christian confessions would be able to jointly prepare for 2033 — the 2000th anniversary of the Redemption of Christ. "May the path toward the celebration of the two-thousandth anniversary of the Redemption be walked together by all Christian confessions of the world," declared the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, the Pope previously prayed with an Anglican bishop and called Christians to unity.
