His Holiness Patriarch Alexy greets the participants in the Assembly of the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia sent greetings to the participants in the Assembly of the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe taking place in St. Petersburg on 4-8 October 2006. The full text is given below.

Your Eminences, Your Graces, dear participants in the Assembly!

I wholeheartedly greet you all who have gathered to the Assembly of the Council of Bishops’ Conference of Europe that takes place in different European cities every year. I state that I shall cherish grateful memory about cooperation with the Council and the prominent hierarchs of the Roman Catholic Church involved in its work at the time of my presidency at the Conference of European Churches.

The Assembly is taking place in St. Petersburg, and this is a symbolic event, as this city has experienced influence of many foreign cultures and traditions, but has always been a most important centre of Russian Orthodox spirituality. I am convinced that your staying in the Russian northern capital will give you an excellent opportunity to get closely acquainted with the great culture of the Orthodox Russia as an integral part of the European spiritual heritage.

You may also assess the present state of Orthodox-Catholic relations in our country. The community of Russian Catholics that is not so great in number enjoys sincere respect of the Russian Orthodox Church. We have always sought after open and trusting relations with them.

Certain challenges that the Christian world confronts today bring our Churches’ positions closer to each other, make us recall our common roots and urge us to active cooperation. I see in the fact of the authoritative Catholic hierarchs of Europe gathering in Russia to discuss topical problems and take important decisions a sign of trust to our country and our Church without which fruitful common work would be impossible.

I sincerely hope that the present Assembly of the Council of Bishops’ Conference in Europe will become another step on the way of developing cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in preaching and affirming Christian values which the world of today needs so badly. I wish you God’s help and success in your work.

With love I the Lord,

+Alexy,
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia