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Vatican sends 'birthday' greetings to Orthodox Patriarch

February 24, 2010

Cardinal Walter Kasper, the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, has sent birthday greetings to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, welcoming the "friendship mutual trust and sincerity which has always characterized our conversations" as "a great gift and a sign of progress in relations between our churches."

Technically Patriarch Bartholomew does not have a birthday this year. A leap-year baby, he was born on February 29, 1940. He has been Patriarch of Constantinople-- the acknowledged leader of the Orthodox world-- since 1991.

 


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  • Posted by: - Feb. 25, 2010 3:51 AM ET USA

    But the day before the calends of March occurs every year.