Kardinal Kasper: The Dialogue with the Orthodox has reached a New Dimmension

Metropolitan Hilarion at the Vatican: One "wants" and "hopes" that a meeting between the Pope and Russian Patriarch must yield results.

Vatican City (kath.net/KNA) The Catholic-Orthodox dialogue has reached a new quality. The Vatican visit of Moscow Head of Foreign Office, Metropolitan Hilarion does not simply constitute a "new level", said the President of the Papal Council on Unity on Monday after approximately 45-minute conversation with the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate.

Kasper stresses that not only theological, but especially the cultural dialogue between the two churches are of greater importance. The difference between Orient and Occident are in the first line today, not in religious differences, rather in a "cultural alienation", said Kasper. Likewise he considers that the collaboration with the Orthodox Church will not be accomplished by a leveling of differences.

Metropolitan Hilarion stresses, that the closeness between Catholic and Orthodox churches in the past years were validated especially through the initiative of Pope Benedict XVI. The Catholic Leader enjoys the high esteem of Eastern Christians as a "defender of traditional Christian values".

The Catholic-Orthodox dialogue may not be limited exclusively to discussions between theologians, according to Hilarion's prescriptions. It it is less useful, when specialists unite on points of contention, if simple people aren't brought along in the accord, said the Metropolitan.

Hilarion however will not speculate on a possible visit of the Moscow Patriarch Kyrill to the Vatican. One "wishes" and "hopes" for such a meeting, but anyway, there are still fundamental questions to be clarified. One such concord is only meaningful, if the outcome yields results, said Hilarion. One mere meeting on his own desire is not meaningful, he confirmed the current mood toward a summit meeting.

The planned program for Hilarion's visit forms the "days of Russian culture and spirituality at the Vatican". The Highpoint is a concert in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI in the audience hall of the Church State on Thursday evening. This event is a gift of the Moscow Patriarch Kyrill for the Head of the Catholic Church.

Upon the conclusion of the concert an address by the Pope is planned. There the "second man of the Moscow Patriarchate" will take part in a Symposium with the title "Witness of Orodoxy and Catholicism in modern Europe" in the new Russian Katherina Church in Rome.

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Earlier meeting with Armenians, here.

Photo: Pope Benedict presents a book at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, 15 May 2009/Pool) reuters.