Catholic World News News Feature

Meeting Jerusalem's Eastern prelates, Pope pleads for unity May 15, 2009

On Friday, May 15, the final day of his visit to the Holy Land, Pope Benedict XVI met with the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic patriarchs of Jerusalem, extending his fraternal greetings and reinforcing the commitment of the Catholic Church to ecumenical progress.

After celebrating Mass privately at the residence of the apostolic nuncio in Jerusalem, where he stayed during his visit to Israel, the Pope traveled to the residence of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus II in the Old City. There he recalled the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I, which ended centuries of estrangement.

Alluding to the fact that the Orthodox patriarch's residence is adjacent to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Pope said that the magnificent history of Jerusalem, and the events that took place there, should be a force for Christian unity. Mindful of the grace that flows from the Resurrection, he asked: "Who could not feel impelled to bring the fullness of goodwill, sound scholarship and spiritual desire to our ecumenical endeavors?" The Pope asked the Orthodox clergy to join him in prayer that "we shall find the strength to redouble our efforts to perfect our communion, to make it complete, to bear united witness to the love of the Father who sends the Son so that the world may know his love for us."

Speaking more generally on the Christian witness in the Holy Land, the Pope said: "It seems to me that the greatest service the Christians of Jerusalem can offer their fellow citizens is the upbringing and education of a further generation of well-formed and committed Christians, earnest in their desire to contribute generously to the religious and civic life of this unique and holy city."

From the Orthodox patriarch's residence, the Pope went on to visit the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. From there he continued across the Old City of Jerusalem, to the Armenian quarter and the cathedral of St. James, where he was greeted by the Armenian Patriarch Torkom Manoukian. In his remarks there the Pope saluted the "illustrious history" of the Armenian Church in Jerusalem.

Pope Benedict mentioned that he had been pleased to acts as host to Catholicos Karekin II, the worldwide leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church; and Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia. He called attention to the theological agreements that have been signed by Catholic and Armenian representatives, establishing a mutual accord on the Christological topics that had led to the split between the Armenian Church and the Holy See. He voiced his hope that further theological talks will build upon these promising steps toward a restoration of communion.

In his talk with the Armenian prelate, too, the Pope asked that the Armenian faithful "pray with me that all the Christians of the Holy Land will work together with generosity and zeal in proclaiming the Gospel of our reconciliation in Christ."