Pope sends message to Catholic-Orthodox Symposium
(Vatican
Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message to Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, on the occasion of the XIV
Inter-Christian Symposium taking place in Thessalonika from 28-30 August.
Sponsored
by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality of the Pontifical University
Antonianum and the Department of Theology of the Orthodox Theological Faculty
of the Aristoteles University of Thessalonika, the Symposium seeks to foster
theological and cultural dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox. The theme of
this year’s meeting is “The Need for a Re-evangelization of the Christian
Communities in Europe.”
“The
presence in Europe of so many people who, although baptized, are not aware of
the gift of faith they have received, have not experienced the consolation, and
do not fully participate in the life of the Christian community represents a
challenge for all the Churches present in the continent,” Pope Francis said in
his message. “In a reality like that of Europe, in which where there are ever
fewer bonds with its Christian roots, there is clearly the need for a new work
of evangelization.”
This
“missionary duty,” he continued, “is sustained by the profound conviction that
‘with this newness, [Christ] is always able to renew our lives and our
communities, and even if the Christian message has known periods of darkness
and ecclesial weakness, it will never grow old.”
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