Pope Francis: Restoration of Christian unity is ‘an urgent priority in today’s world’

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the full restoration of communion among all Christians is “an urgent priority in today’s world.”

In a letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the pope expressed gratitude that Catholic and Orthodox Christians are seeking “to achieve full communion that will enable us one day, in God’s time, to gather together at the same eucharistic table.”
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Posted: Dec. 1, 2022 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=12880
Categories: CNA • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Orthodox, Pope Francis Transmis : 1 déc. 2022 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=12880
Catégorie : CNA • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Orthodox, Pope Francis

Divisions are the result of sinful action, Francis tells Bartholomew

Pope Francis in a message to Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I has called for a continuous analyzing of the historical and theological reasons for the ongoing divisions between the two Churches “in a spirit that is neither polemical nor apologetic but marked instead by authentic dialogue and mutual openness”.
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Posted: Dec. 1, 2022 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=12877
Categories: La Croix • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Orthodox, Pope Francis Transmis : 1 déc. 2022 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=12877
Catégorie : La Croix • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Orthodox, Pope Francis

Overcoming Christian divisions would give world hope, pope tells patriarch

While formal dialogue about the theological and historical causes of the splits in Christianity are essential, so, too, is a recognition that “sinful actions and attitudes” have contributed and continue to contribute to divisions in the body of Christ, Pope Francis said.

“We are called, then, to work toward the restoration of unity between Christians, not merely through signed agreements but through fidelity to the Father’s will and discernment of the promptings of the Spirit,” Pope Francis wrote in a letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople Nov. 30, the feast of St. Andrew.
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Posted: Nov. 30, 2022 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=12871
Categories: CNS • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Christian unity, Orthodox, Pope Francis Transmis : 30 nov. 2022 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=12871
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Christian unity, Orthodox, Pope Francis

Pope Francis in Bahrain reflects on unity and witness as the cornerstones of ecumenism

Pope Francis led an ecumenical prayer meeting with the participation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Christian leaders from Bahrain
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Posted: Nov. 7, 2022 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=12907
Categories: News • In this article: apostolic visits, Bartholomew I, Pope Francis Transmis : 7 nov. 2022 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=12907
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : apostolic visits, Bartholomew I, Pope Francis

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the WCC 11th Assembly: Restoring the shattered Image of creation requires repentance and resurrection

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew offered greetings and a pointed message to the delegates and participants at the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany.

He began his remarks with the teaching and the belief that “the light of Christ shines more brightly than any darkness in our hearts and in our world,” offering this idea as the underlying premise to the theme of the assembly, that “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”

Yet, we have fallen short of this ideal, he suggested. Asking each of us the question, “how can we reconcile our magnificent faith with our manifest failure?”
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Posted: Sept. 1, 2022 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=12382
Categories: Conferences, WCC News • In this article: Bartholomew I, creation, WCC, WCC Assembly Transmis : 1 sept. 2022 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=12382
Catégorie : Conferences, WCC News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, creation, WCC, WCC Assembly

Ukrainian Catholic leader sees new possibilities for ecumenism

The formal recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine brings “a wind of hope” that new opportunities will be created for dialogue and concrete cooperation in the search for Christian unity, said the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, said he already has agreed with the Orthodox Church’s newly elected Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kiev to draw up a “road map” to examine where the two churches could work together. The archbishop made his comments in a long interview with Glavcom, a Ukrainian news site; the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s website published the English translation of the interview Jan. 10.
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Posted: Jan. 11, 2019 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10440
Categories: CNS • In this article: Bartholomew I, Epiphanius, Orthodox, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Ukraine, Ukrainian Catholic Transmis : 11 janv. 2019 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10440
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Epiphanius, Orthodox, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Ukraine, Ukrainian Catholic

Batholomew, ”Ukraine has the right to be granted autocephaly”

After the vespers in honour of St Andrew, patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Patriarch Bartholomew received an international Orthodox interparliamentary delegation of which 24 States are members, presided over by the Russian Gavrilof, who took part to the festivities.

The Patriarch told those present that the work of the Synod had just been completed and that the Tomos is being prepared for granting the autocephaly to the Ukrainian Church. In this context the new statute of the Ukrainian Church was discussed, a subject that will continue during the Ukrainian Synod in December during which it is hoped that all the Orthodox parties will participate, to arrive at the election of the primate and grant the so-called Tomos. A new church will thus be added to the existing 14: “It is a purely administrative fact that does not affect the magisterium of the Orthodox Church”, Bartholomew explained.
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Posted: Dec. 1, 2018 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10311
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Orthodox, Ukraine Transmis : 1 déc. 2018 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10311
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Orthodox, Ukraine

Pope, patriarch call for ethical intervention in economy

Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople called on Christians to work together to build a culture of solidarity in the face of growing economic inequality and a lack of respect for the human dignity of the poor and of migrants.

The two leaders met privately May 26 before addressing an international conference sponsored by the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation, which seeks to promote the teaching of St. John Paul II’s 1991 encyclical on social and economic justice.

“The current difficulties and crises within the global economic system have an undeniable ethical dimension,” Pope Francis told some 500 business leaders, theologians and proponents of Catholic social teaching.
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Posted: May 28, 2018 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=10258
Categories: CNS • In this article: Bartholomew I, economic ethics, Pope Francis Transmis : 28 mai 2018 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=10258
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, economic ethics, Pope Francis

Religious leaders praise Patriarch Bartholomew as a great ecumenist

As leaders of dozens of religions gathered in Assisi for dialogue and prayers for peace, they honored Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople as an exemplar of one who is so deeply rooted in his own religious tradition that he can reach out to others without fear.

Jewish, Anglican and Catholic leaders paid tribute to Patriarch Bartholomew as he was about to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his enthronement as spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians. Pope Francis was scheduled to participate in a celebratory luncheon for the patriarch Sept. 20 in Assisi.

The Assisi celebrations Sept. 18-20 were organized by the Rome-based Community of Sant’Egidio, the Diocese of Assisi and the Franciscan friars.
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Posted: Sept. 20, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9553
Categories: CNS • In this article: Assisi, Bartholomew I, David Rosen, Justin Welby, peace, Pope Francis, prayer Transmis : 20 sept. 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9553
Catégorie : CNS • Dans cet article : Assisi, Bartholomew I, David Rosen, Justin Welby, peace, Pope Francis, prayer

Pope, Ecumenical Patriarch, and Archbishop of Athens send message of concern for refugees

Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece met on the Greek island of Lesvos on 16 April to demonstrate their concern for the situation of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers who have come to Europe fleeing from situations of conflict and, in many cases, daily threats to their survival.

The three church leaders urged people not to ignore the humanitarian crisis created by the spread of violence and armed conflict, the persecution and displacement of religious and ethnic minorities, and the uprooting of families from their homes.

“The tragedy of forced migration and displacement affects millions, and is fundamentally a crisis of humanity, calling for a response of solidarity, compassion, generosity and an immediate practical commitment of resources,” reads their message. “From Lesvos, we appeal to the international community to respond with courage in facing this massive humanitarian crisis, and its underlying causes, through diplomatic, political and charitable initiatives and through cooperative efforts, both in the Middle East and in Europe.”

The three leaders said they are one in their desire for peace and in their readiness to promote the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and reconciliation.
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Posted: Apr. 21, 2016 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=9129
Categories: Communiqué, WCC News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Pope Francis, refugees Transmis : 21 avril 2016 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=9129
Catégorie : Communiqué, WCC News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Pope Francis, refugees

Ecumenical Patriarch’s encyclical issues call to dwell in harmony with God’s creation

As part of the observation of the Time for Creation, Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, has once again sent an encyclical to remind churches and people of goodwill about the grave risks deriving from growing abuse of energy resources, threatening to increase global warming and the sustainability of the natural environment.

“We invite everyone to soberness of life, purification of passionate thoughts and selfish motivations, so that we may dwell in harmony with our neighbours and with God’s creation,” said Bartholomew I.

These reflections were shared by the Ecumenical Patriarch on the occasion of the start of a “Time for Creation”, a global event which invokes prayers for creation, eco-justice and peace with the earth. It has been celebrated each year since 1989 from 1 September to 4 October. This year’s event has been promoted by Pope Francis’s recent proclamation of 1 September as the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.”

The Time for Creation was affirmed by the WCC Central Committee in 2008 as an invitation “to observe through prayers and action a special time for creation, its care and stewardship.”
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Posted: Sept. 1, 2015 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=8667
Categories: Documents, WCC News • In this article: Bartholomew I, creation, ecology, encyclicals, environment Transmis : 1 sept. 2015 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=8667
Catégorie : Documents, WCC News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, creation, ecology, encyclicals, environment

Francis and Bartholomew issue resounding, historic calls for church reunification

Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leaders of the millennium-long separated Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, have issued resounding and historic calls for the reunification of their global communities. Speaking to one another after a solemn Orthodox divine liturgy in St. George, an historic Christian center, Sunday, both leaders pledged to intensify efforts for full unity of their churches, saying such unity already exists among Christians dying in conflicts in the Middle East. For his part, Francis made what appears to be the strongest and most encompassing call yet from a Catholic pontiff for unity. Seeking to assure Orthodox leaders that restoration of full communion between the churches would respect Eastern traditions, he said reunion would “not signify the submission of one to the other, or assimilation.” “I want to assure each one of you here that, to reach the desired goal of full unity, the Catholic church does not intend to impose any conditions except that of the shared profession of faith,” said the pope.
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Posted: Nov. 30, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7921
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, pope, Pope Francis Transmis : 30 nov. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7921
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, pope, Pope Francis

Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

We, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, express our profound gratitude to God for the gift of this new encounter enabling us, in the presence of the members of the Holy Synod, the clergy and the faithful of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to celebrate together the feast of Saint Andrew, the first-called and brother of the Apostle Peter. Our remembrance of the Apostles, who proclaimed the good news of the Gospel to the world through their preaching and their witness of martyrdom, strengthens in us the aspiration to continue to walk together in order to overcome, in love and in truth, the obstacles that divide us.
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Posted: Nov. 30, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7918
Categories: Communiqué, Vatican News • In this article: Bartholomew I, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, interfaith, pope, Pope Francis Transmis : 30 nov. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7918
Catégorie : Communiqué, Vatican News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, interfaith, pope, Pope Francis

Bartholomew and Francis call a joint synod at Nicaea in 2025

On his return from Jerusalem, where he met with Pope Francis at the Holy Sepulchre, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, has revealed an important appointment for unity between Catholics and Orthodox: a gathering at Nicaea in 2025, where the first real ecumenical council of the undivided Church was celebrated.

Speaking exclusively with AsiaNews, Bartholomew says that together with Pope Francis “we agreed to leave as a legacy to ourselves and our successors a gathering in Nicaea in 2025, to celebrate together, after 17 centuries, the first truly ecumenical synod, where the Creed was first promulgated”. The Council of Nicaea (now Iznik, 130 km south-east of Istanbul), brought together more than 300 bishops from East and West in 325 and is considered the first true ecumenical council. It was there that the formula of the Creed was decided, similar to the one recited during the liturgy today, saying that Jesus “is consubstantial to the Father,” to counter the Arian ideology.
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Posted: May 29, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7670
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Orthodox, Pope Francis, synods Transmis : 29 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7670
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Orthodox, Pope Francis, synods

Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Like our venerable predecessors Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras who met here in Jerusalem fifty years ago, we too, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, were determined to meet in the Holy Land “where our common Redeemer, Christ our Lord, lived, taught, died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, whence he sent the Holy Spirit on the infant Church” (Common communiqué of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, published after their meeting of 6 January 1964). Our meeting, another encounter of the Bishops of the Churches of Rome and Constantinople founded respectively by the two Brothers the Apostles Peter and Andrew, is a source of profound spiritual joy for us. It presents a providential occasion to reflect on the depth and the authenticity of our existing bonds, themselves the fruit of a grace-filled journey on which the Lord has guided us since that blessed day of fifty years ago.
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Posted: May 26, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7666
Categories: Communiqué, Vatican News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox, Pope Francis Transmis : 26 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7666
Catégorie : Communiqué, Vatican News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, dialogue, Orthodox, Pope Francis

Catholics & Orthodox looking towards Jerusalem meeting of Francis & Bartholomew

The historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem in January 1964 was a joyful occasion that swept aside centuries of division and has born good fruit, said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Archbishop Demetrios, primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America and chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, in a joint statement, May 15.

The statement anticipated the May 25 meeting of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem.

Archbishop Kurtz and Archbishop Demetrios said the growing closeness between Catholic and Orthodox Christians over the last 50 years has allowed them “to speak with one voice” on issues facing society.

“We commit ourselves to increased cooperation in these areas, including social, economic, and ethical dilemmas, and we call our people to pray for the success of the upcoming meeting between Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem for the glory of God and the promotion of Christianity in our wounded world,” the statement said.
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Posted: May 15, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7567
Categories: Communiqué • In this article: Bartholomew I, Pope Francis Transmis : 15 mai 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7567
Catégorie : Communiqué • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Pope Francis

So that Christians may be one

The motto and logo of Pope Francis’ visit to the Holy Land

Ut unum sint is the motto chosen for Pope Francis’ visit to the Holy Land. The website theholylandreview.net announced this following the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land which was held in Tiberias on 11-12 March. There the heads of the Catholic communities in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus presented the logo and motto for the Pope’s pilgrimage scheduled for 24-26 May.

The motto of the pilgrimage, according to the website, “is at the very core of his trip to the Holy Land”. Francis and Bartolomaios are scheduled to meet in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre to commemorate and renew the desire and longing for unity among Christians, expressed by Pope Paul VI and Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras 50 years ago in Jerusalem. In addition, the logo depicts the embrace between the two brothers, Apostles Peter and Andrew: the first two disciples called by Jesus in Galilee, patrons respectively of the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople.
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Posted: Mar. 15, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7452
Categories: Vatican News • In this article: Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, pope, Pope Francis Transmis : 15 mars 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7452
Catégorie : Vatican News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenism, pope, Pope Francis

Pope Francis’ ecumenism

Almost a year after Francis’ election and with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at an end, it is now possible to give a first overview of the Pope’s initiatives to promote ecumenism. “For me ecumenism is a priority” Francis told Vatican Insider and Italian newspaper La Stampa in last December’s interview.

Some of the choices he made even at the very start of his pontificate had a very positive impact of ecumenism.
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Posted: Jan. 28, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7231
Categories: News • In this article: Bartholomew I, papacy, pope, Pope Francis Transmis : 28 janv. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7231
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, papacy, pope, Pope Francis

Long divisions that plague the Church

There are many reasons to be hopeful about the direction of Catholic-Orthodox dialogue but it is threatened by tensions emerging within the Orthodox Church. As the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity gets under way today, a leading ecumenist gives his assessment.

In 1923, a schoolteacher priest of Lyons started devoting his spare time to helping the 10,000 refugees from Bolshevism camped and lodged around the city and its suburbs. It was his first encounter with a Christianity that was not Roman Catholic. Thus he learned the friendship of receiving as well as giving, finding great respect for the Orthodox clergy and people in their moment of destitution, as his heart opened to their faith and the beauty of their worship. He was astonished to find Catholics from the old Russian Empire who were not Latins, but Eastern Christians who maintained their unity with the Bishop of Rome with roots to before the Great Schism. Over the next decade, Paul Couturier became convinced of the need for Christian unity, and in 1935 he took hold of the Catholic Church Unity Octave, founded in 1908, and developed it into a “Universal Week of Prayer for the Unity of Christians in the charity and truth of Christ”. Inspired by the holiness of the Orthodox, beyond this world he imagined an “invisible monastery”, in which all could unite in prayer to God in Heaven, in the hope of seeing the same union realised in the Church here. He took for his motto the saying of Metropolitan Platon Gorodetsky of Kiev: “The walls of separation do not rise as far as Heaven.”
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Posted: Jan. 16, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7184
Categories: Tablet • In this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, ecumenism, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox Transmis : 16 janv. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7184
Catégorie : Tablet • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, ecumenism, Moscow Patriarchate, Orthodox

Archbishop of Canterbury meets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

The Archbishop of Canterbury affirmed his commitment to the reconciliation of Eastern and Western churches during a meeting with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew yesterday.

The Most Revd Justin Welby was meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew during a two-day visit to Istanbul.

During their meeting Archbishop Justin said that Patriarch Bartholomew had been “an example of peace and reconciliation, politically, with the natural world, and in your historic visit to the installation of His Holiness Pope Francis I.

“Such reconciliation [is] very dear to my heart and is one of my key priorities. It is the call of Christ that all may be one so that the world may see. I will therefore be taking back with me the warmth of your hospitality and also, after our discussions today and tomorrow, a renewed and refreshed focus for greater unity and closer fellowship. We want to carry the cross of our divisions, but be filled with the hope and joy that comes from the grace and the love of Jesus.”
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Posted: Jan. 14, 2014 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=7181
Categories: ACNS, Communiqué • In this article: Anglican, Archbishop of Canterbury, Bartholomew I, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Justin Welby, Orthodox Transmis : 14 janv. 2014 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=7181
Catégorie : ACNS, Communiqué • Dans cet article : Anglican, Archbishop of Canterbury, Bartholomew I, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Justin Welby, Orthodox