DIALOGUE WITH THE ORTHODOX MUST BE INTENSELY CONTINUED

VATICAN CITY, JUN 4, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a letter from the Pope addressed to Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the subject of which was dialogue with the Orthodox.

John Paul II recalled that, due to the war in the Balkans, it would not be possible to celebrate the plenary session of the mixed international commission for theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church in its entirety, which had been scheduled to take place this month.

"On the threshold of the third millennium of the Christian era," writes the Pope, "ecumenical commitment must be undertaken with renewed and ardent vigour."

The Holy Father encourages the cardinal and the members of the commission to reflect on relations between the Orthodox Churches and the Oriental Catholic Churches, "in awareness of the fact that the latter have, within the Catholic Church, a dignity equal to that of all other Churches in full communion with the Bishop of Rome; they enjoy the same rights and have the same obligations."

"Not only must dialogue not cease, it must continue with renewed intensity. ... I therefore urge this pontifical council to find the ways and means of rendering, as far as possible, relations with each Orthodox Church cordial and constructive. ... I hope that this effort may lead to progressively overcoming the difficulties still present and help the disciples of Christ to walk resolutely towards full communion."

JPII-LETTER;DIALOGUE ORTHODOX;...;CASSIDY;VIS;19990604;Word: 260;