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Skriven 2005-04-25 09:33:22 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

POPE HIGHLIGHTS ECUMENISM, DIALOGUE WITH NON-CHRISTIANS

VATICAN CITY, APR 25, 2005 (VIS) - At 11 this morning in the Clementine Hall,
Pope Benedict XVI welcomed members of Christian Churches and ecclesial
communities, as well as those of non-Christian religions who had come to Rome
for the Mass yesterday to inaugurate his pontificate.

In greeting the delegates of the Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Orthodox
Churches and the ecclesial communities of the West, he noted how "welcome"
their presence was both yesterday in St. Peter's and in the days of mourning
for and the funeral of Pope John Paul II. He told them their tribute at that
time "went well beyond a simple act of ecclesial courtesy. ... Your
participation in the mourning of the Catholic Church for his death showed how
true and how great is the common passion for unity."

"In greeting you, I would like to thank the Lord," said the Pope, "Who has
blessed us with His mercy and has infused in us a sincere disposition to make
His prayer - 'ut unum sint' - our prayer."

Speaking French, Benedict XVI called this morning's meeting "significant as it
permits the new bishop of Rome, pastor of the Catholic Church, to repeat to
you, with simplicity, 'Duc in altum' (Put out into the deep)." He added that he
wished to "reaffirm the irreversible commitment" undertaken at Vatican Council
II, and since then, to stay "on the path towards full unity desired by Jesus
for His disciples. ... Your presence, dear brothers in Christ, beyond what
divides us and throws shadows over our full and visible communion, is a sign of
sharing and support for the bishop of Rome, who can count on your support to
follow" this path.

"I turn now to you, dear friends from different religious traditions," said the
Holy Father in English, "and I thank you sincerely for your presence at the
solemn inauguration of my pontificate. ... I am particularly grateful for the
presence in our midst of members of the Muslim community, and I express my
appreciation for the growth of dialogue between Muslims and Christians, both at
the local and international level. I assure you that the Church wants to
continue building bridges of friendship with the followers of all religions, in
order to seek the true good of every person and of society as a whole.

"The world in which we live is often marked by conflicts, violence and war, but
it earnestly longs for peace, peace which is above all a gift from God, peace
for which we must pray without ceasing. Yet peace is also a duty to which all
peoples must be committed, especially those who profess to belong to religious
traditions. Our efforts to come together and foster dialogue are a valuable
contribution to building peace on solid foundations."

Benedict XVI concluded by inviting all present "to become together artisans of
peace, of a reciprocal commitment to understanding, respect and love."
BXVI/ECUMENISM:DIALOGUE/...VIS 050425 (490)

SUMMARY

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