Receiving an Orthodox delegation from Athens on Monday, Pope John Paul II
suggested "the hour of collaboration has struck" between the Catholic
and Greek churches.
Observers say there is an apparent thaw in icy relations between the Holy See
and the Greek Orthodox Church, as it becomes more evident that East-West
ecclesial cooperation is needed to bolster Christianity´s contribution to the
building of a new Europe.
The European Convention, which will shape the future of the European Union,
began on 28 February. The alleged marginalisation of Christians in this process
appears to be the catalyst in closer Rome-Orthodox relations.
John Paul II invited his Greek guests, who were led by Metropolitan Panteleimon
of Attikis, to walk together toward the "ecumenism of holiness, which with
God´s help will finally lead us to full communion, which does not mean
absorption or fusion, but a meeting in truth and love."
The Holy Father proposed a "deepening of our collaboration and working
together to make the voice of the Gospel resound forcefully in this Europe of
ours, in which peoples´ Christian roots must be revived."