Pope sends message, chalice to new Russian Orthodox patriarch

CNS ^ | February 3, 2009 | Cindy Wooden

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI gave a chalice to the new patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church and expressed his hope that Catholics and Russian Orthodox can improve their relationship.

"It is my earnest hope that we will continue to cooperate in finding ways to foster and strengthen communion in the body of Christ in fidelity to our savior's prayer that all may be one so that the world may believe," the pope said.

Pope Benedict's message to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow was delivered by a high-level Vatican delegation attending his enthronement liturgy in Moscow Feb. 1.

The pope also sent Patriarch Kirill a chalice as a sign of his hope that the Catholic and Orthodox churches soon will be in full communion with each other, the Vatican said Feb. 2.

Patriarch Kirill, 62, was elected patriarch Jan. 27 after serving almost 20 years as chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church's department for ecumenical relations. In that position, he had met Pope Benedict three times over the past four years.

Pope Benedict said that the new patriarch, as the head of ecumenical relations, "played an outstanding role in forging a new relationship between our churches, a relationship based on friendship, mutual acceptance and sincere dialogue in facing the difficulties of our common journey."

While Catholic and Russian Orthodox leaders had frequent contacts over the past 20 years, the Russian Orthodox repeatedly said relations had not progressed far enough to make a meeting between the pope and the patriarch appropriate.

The tensions between the two churches arose mainly from the re-establishment of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and of Roman Catholic dioceses in the territories of the former Soviet Union once religious freedom was restored.

Despite the tensions, Pope Benedict said in his message, there has been a spirit of openness and cooperation with the Catholic Church "for the defense of Christian values in Europe and in the world. I am certain that Your Holiness will continue to build on this solid foundation for the good of your people and for the benefit of Christians everywhere."

The Vatican delegation to Patriarch Kirill's enthronement was led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

After meeting privately with Patriarch Kirill Feb. 2, Cardinal Kasper told Vatican Radio that the new Russian Orthodox leader thanked the pope for his message and for the chalice and gave the cardinal a letter to deliver to the pope.

"He said he wanted to continue the approach begun by his predecessor in relations between our two churches," the cardinal said, particularly affirming the need for the churches to give people moral guidance and hope in the midst of the global financial crisis.

"Patriarch Kirill added that our dialogue also touches on the unity of the church, on ideological problems, because that which we hold in common regarding social issues is based on and rooted in our common faith," the cardinal said.

[NYer]

Ping!

[Martin Tell]

A gracious gesture by the Holy Father. That we all may be one!

I would have appreciated, however, some more information about the chalice. Wonder if it had any (past) historical significance.

[MinuteGal]

Ditto that. I'd like to see a pic of the chalice.....and know where it's from and how old it is, etc. etc.

This was an extremely thoughtful gift.

May their relationship be fruitful and blessed.

Leni