(Newswire.net — December 1, 2014) — Head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis visited his Orthodox counterpart Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Constantinople (Istanbul) past weekend. Pope Francis spoke at Ecumenical pray and the holy Archpriest liturgy at St. George temple to both Orthodox and Catholic attendees. He said that, in the future, the relationship between Orthodox and Catholic Church would be a lot stronger.
Mentioning crisis in Ukraine, their holiness’ Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew agreed that Christians should not fight among themselves, urging both sides in the conflict to immediately stop the violence.
At the end of his speech, Pope Francis received a blessing from Patriarch Bartholomew who kissed his forehead.
Pope Francis entered the St. George temple the night before the celebration of the St. Apostle Andrew, protector of the Patriarchy. At the entrance, he donated a large silver icon.
The speech itself was short but concise, providing a glance at what the new relationship of the two Christian fractions should look like in the future.
Calling Pope Francis a ‘brother’, in his speech Patriarch Bartholomew reminded of love between brothers Apostle St. Peter and St. Andrew. He recalls similar visits of Pope Francis predecessors citing Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Patriarch Bartholomew said, “This historical event fulfilled signs of united future.” He said that the unity of Orthodox and Catholic fractions is not only the will of two churches and the Christians at large, but is the Lord’s will as well.
“I feel that the joy of this moment is greater because it is not from this world. This Joy is not from us, nether in our commitments, neither our efforts, which is necessary by itself. This joy of our religion is to see the words of the Lord fulfilled,” the Pope Francis said in his speech.
“The Apostle Andrew and Peter heard this promise of the Lord, and received it as a reward. They were brothers in blood, and their meeting with the Christ turned them into the brothers by religion and charity,” The Pope Francis said adding that at this joyful vigil he would like to point out that “Andrew and Peter become brothers in hope.”