Reunion in Rome

For the first time in Christian history, the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople last week set foot in Rome. Accompanied by four of his Metropolitans, Athenagoras I, the spiritual primate of Orthodoxy, arrived by jet for the third of his historic, symbolic encounters with Pope Paul VI. The three-day visit was, in a sense, a return engagement, inspired by the Pope's trip to Istanbul last July.

Since the Patriarch has no jurisdictional authority over most of Orthodoxy's autonomous branches, the meeting could not in itself produce any decision that might lead to union between the two churches. Nonetheless, Pope and Patriarch twice spoke with each other about such common problems as secularization, peace and war for more than an hour--the longest length of time they have had together. Once again, the two churchmen made it clear that they are uncommonly eager for unity.

At a joint prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica, Paul expressed sorrow that "we cannot have that complete communion among ourselves which would be a sign to the world." Athenagoras agreed that they should "exhaust all means to accomplish the union of the divided church of Christ."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.