CHURCHES ESTABLISH JOINT COMMISSION FOR THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 31, 2003 - A communique was published this afternoon, stating that "Catholic and Oriental Orthodox representatives, delegated by their Churches as members of the Preparatory Committee for the Catholic Church-Oriental Orthodox Churches International Joint Commission for Dialogue, met January 27-29 under the chairmanship of Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Metropolitan Amba Bishoy of Damiette of the Coptic Orthodox Church."

"The meeting was held in Rome at the offices of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in response to a letter from Cardinal Kasper, dated September 10, 2002 and addressed to all the heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, inviting them to engage in an official dialogue with the Catholic Church. The Oriental Orthodox Churches are comprised of: Coptic Orthodox Church, Syrian Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of all Armenians), Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of Cilicia), Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Eritrean Orthodox Church.

"In his opening address, Cardinal Kasper welcomed the participants by saying. 'I greatly appreciate your willingness to take part in this meeting, which hopefully may become a new and promising step in our journey towards full communion'. Referring to the work accomplished in the past, he stated: 'This meeting is not the first, nor will it be the last along the path of our ecumenical venture. Much has been achieved in previous years, and still more remains to be done in the years to come'."

"The Preparatory Committee officially established the rules of membership of the Catholic Church-Oriental Orthodox Churches International Joint Commission for Dialogue and set up the work plan, agenda, membership, procedures, methodologies and timetable for the Joint Commission. The first meeting of this Joint Commission is foreseen for the end of January 2004."

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