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Published by
Zenit.org,
November 4, 2004
Nuncio in Russia Analyzes Recent Orthodox
Council
Archbishop Mennini Sees "Greater
Cordiality" |
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MOSCOW, NOV. 4, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The Council of
Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, held here
last month, shows promise for ecumenical
relations, says a Vatican representative.
The results of the Oct. 8 council, as well as
relations between the Catholic and Russian
Orthodox Churches, were analyzed by Archbishop
Antonio Mennini, representative of the Holy See to
the Russian Federation, in an interview with the
newspaper NG Religii.
The Orthodox council studied issues such as the
introduction of religion as a subject of
education, and relations with Catholicism.
The apostolic nuncio revealed that "many observers
have noted greater cordiality, in respect of the
Catholic Church, in the texts of the main
addresses of the council."
"In my opinion," he continued, "there is no doubt
that the hierarchy of the Russian Church, both the
Most Holy Patriarch as well as the members of the
Holy Synod, have shown a sadness similar to that
of His Holiness the Pope and the faithful of the
Catholic Church over the deterioration in the
relations between our Churches, which sadly has
happened in the last decade."
"Both in the council as well as previously, there
was allusion several times to the need to continue
the effort to improve relations between the two
Churches, to develop dialogue and to increase
collaboration," the Vatican representative said.
"The council ratified with its authority the
tendencies toward reciprocal understanding arising
lately and I hope that this will be fruitful."
Asked if the struggle against terrorism might
bring the two Churches closer, Archbishop Mennini
replied: "The position of the Catholic Church is
certainly known on the rejection of all forms of
violence and discrimination, especially of a
terrorist nature."
"In all cases of crimes committed, without
exception, the Holy Father has maintained a
position that is very close to that manifested in
this respect by the council," he explained.
The nuncio referred to John Paul II's restitution
of the icon of the Mother of God of Kazan to the
Russian patriarch.
"In this case, it is not just an act of justice,
according to the interpretation of some observers,
but of sincere and profound affection," the
archbishop said.
He mentioned "the affection of very many Catholics
who, in the '60s, had collected with great
sacrifice, a huge sum to rescue this icon, so that
it wouldn't fall into the hands of a collector but
might return to its country -- when this was God's
will."
"It is also a sign of affection of the Pope who
loves this icon very much," Archbishop Mennini
said. "For many years, he kept it in his private
chapel and prayed every day before it. It should
be noted that His Holiness was very interested in
the restitution of the icon during his
pontificate."
Archbishop Mennini mentioned that, to promote
relations between Catholics and Russian Orthodox,
a mixed working commission has been set up, with
the participation of representatives of the local
Churches -- Orthodox and Catholic -- and an
observer of the Apostolic See, as "a sensible
outcome of the common work to improve relations
between the two Churches."
The archbishop observed that "the commission has
started to act very recently" and that "for the
time being, it is premature to evaluate the
results," although "progress to date in this
direction allows us to look at the future with
hope."
"Patient, reciprocal work of clarification must be
done to overcome differences of mentality that
often lead to mistakes and lack of understanding,"
added the Vatican representative.
He said: "To the existing objective difficulties
are added, lamentably, interpretations of the
media that not always show sufficient
professionalism when dealing with
interconfessional relations and, in this way, do
not contribute to the creation of an atmosphere of
reciprocal confidence and appreciation."
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