Pope Francis on Monday reflected on the fruitfulness and importance of Catholic Orthodox dialogue on the journey to full communion.
He was speaking to the Apostolikí Diaconía and the Family Support Center of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens (KESO), whom he received in the Vatican.
The Apostolikí Diaconía is the authority of the Orthodox Church responsible for missions and evangelization and has a large press centre for the dissemination of theological and liturgical texts.
It is headed by Bishop Agathanghelos whom the Pope addressed personally asking him to convey his fraternal good wishes to Archbishop Ieronymos upon his return to Athens.
According to a vaticannews.va post, the Pope noted that cooperation between Apostolikí Diaconía and the Vatican Council for Promoting Christian Unity has been taking place for over fifteen years and “has resulted in a number of praiseworthy cultural and educational projects”.
“It is a fine example of how fruitful it can be when Catholics and Orthodox work together” he said.
We have more in common than what keeps us apart
The Pope remarked on how during these years it has clearly emerged “that what we have in common is much greater than what keeps us apart”.
Working together, he said, helps us to see one another as brothers and sisters.
He said young people urge us not to remain prisoners of our differences, “but to grow in the desire to journey together and to dream of surmounting the difficulties standing in the way of full communion”.
“It is up to us to continue to advance together, to work together and to see ourselves once more as brothers and sisters” he said.
