Patriarch Alexy II positive about Russian Orthodox-Roman Catholic relations

Moscow, Russia, Jul 5, 2006 / 22:00 pm

Russian Patriarch Alexy II insisted on the need for the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches to cooperate facing the challenges of the current culture in modern Europe, reported Interfax.

The primate of the Russian church made the comment at the World Religious Summit, held in Moscow, from July 3 to 5.

Uniting the two churches with a common position on issues of the day, “presents a wonderful opportunity to witness about Christian values before the world,” he said.

Alexy II also thanked Pope Benedict XVI for his support for the summit and said the participation of a Vatican delegation at the interreligious summit “testifies to the positive development of relations between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. The Pope did not attend the summit.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said the Vatican shares the concerns of the Russian Orthodox Church about attempts to marginalize religion in Europe and throughout the world.

“At the same time I note the growing interest of modern youth to religious life. Our cooperation would be a good sign for the young people,” the cardinal said.

Cardinal Kasper observed that many of the delegates representing different religions at the summit spoke in favor of peace and denounced the killing of innocent people in the name of religion. “This summit is very important as the voice of its participants will be heard in the world,” he stated.

The Catholic delegation also included Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture and Interreligious Dialogue; Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, honorary president of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace; Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, and; Bishop Joseph Wert, president of the Catholic bishops’ conference of Russia.