Orthodox-Catholic conversations on the contribution of Churches to reconciliation between peoples of Poland and Russia take place in Warsaw

The first session of the working group of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in Poland on the elaboration of a document on the contribution of Churches to reconciliation between peoples of Russia and Poland took place in Warsaw on 24 June 2010. The group was set up at a meeting held in the capital of Poland on 26 February 2010.

The Moscow Patriarchate was represented by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, his deputy Hegumen Philipp (Ryabykh), and DECR secretary for far abroad countries Rev. Sergiy Zvonarev. Taking part in the session on behalf of the Catholic Church in Poland were the Primate of Poland Archbishop Henryk Muszynski, general secretary of the Polish Episcopal Conference Bishop Stanislaw Budzik, and president of the Council for Ecumenism Bishop Tadeusz Pikus.

The working group discussed two versions of the document prepared by the Orthodox and Catholic delegations, reached agreement on its structure and main contents, and decided that they will consider the grievances of the past in the spirit of Christ compassion and mutual forgiveness, whereas experts will make thorough research into the authenticity of historical facts and interpret them. The major part of the document will contain definitions of the spheres of cooperation between the two Churches at present and in the future for the good of the peoples of Poland and Russia.

The next session is due to take place in Moscow.