"With Gladness"

The two already familiar with each other from some two decades of contact, as expected, this morning the Pope sent a congratulatory telegram to the newly-elected Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox church, its text as follows:

I HAVE RECEIVED WITH GLADNESS THE NEWS OF YOUR ELECTION AS PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA. I WARMLY CONGRATULATE YOU AND WISH YOU EVERY STRENGTH AND JOY IN THE FULFILMENT OF THE GREAT TASK WHICH LIES BEFORE YOU AS YOU GUIDE THE CHURCH OVER WHICH YOU NOW PRESIDE ALONG THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND UNITY. IN PRAYER, I ASK THE LORD TO GRANT YOU AN ABUNDANCE OF WISDOM TO DISCERN HIS WILL, TO PERSEVERE IN LOVING SERVICE OF THE PEOPLE ENTRUSTED TO YOUR PATRIARCHAL MINISTRY, AND TO SUSTAIN THEM IN FIDELITY TO THE GOSPEL AND THE GREAT TRADITIONS OF RUSSIAN ORTHODOXY. MAY THE ALMIGHTY ALSO BLESS YOUR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN COMMUNION AMONG THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES AND TO SEEK THAT FULLNESS OF COMMUNION WHICH IS THE GOAL OF CATHOLIC-ORTHODOX COLLABORATION AND DIALOGUE. I ASSURE YOUR HOLINESS OF MY SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS AND OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S COMMITMENT TO COOPERATE WITH THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH FOR AN EVER CLEARER WITNESS TO THE TRUTH OF THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE AND TO THE VALUES WHICH ALONE CAN SUSTAIN TODAY’S WORLD ALONG THE WAY OF PEACE, JUSTICE AND LOVING CARE OF THE MARGINALIZED. WITH BROTHERLY AFFECTION IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, I INVOKE UPON YOU THE HOLY SPIRIT’S GIFTS OF WISDOM, STRENGTH AND PEACE.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

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