Yawn and Ho-hum! But for the record, since this is reported as 'news'....
Vatican warns against speculating
on Benedict-Alexei meeting
Moscow, August 6 (Interfax) - A Vatican officials says a meeting between Pope Benedict XVI of Rome and Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow is possible, but urges to avoid speculations and not to force it.
"Again, we hope that a meeting between Pope Benedict and the Patriarch Alexis will be possible (because) the Patriarch (Alexei-II)said to me, 'All things go in this direction'," said Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, in an interview for a special Russian edition of the magazine
30 Giorni.
This edition was made possible thanks through a cooperation between the magazine published by many-time former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti and the World Public Forum Dialogue of Civilizations.
"This is still not concretely on the agenda. We must be honest, and avoid speculations that harm everyone. There is willingness on both sides, it is true, but we must not force it. Rather, we should promote reconciliation in an attitude of active patience," Cardinal Kasper stressed.
He also stressed the importance of a theological dialogue between the two Churches in promoting this erconciliation.
"I have the impression that we are on the right path. I don't expect that full unity between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches will be reached tomorrow. It will be a long process, because an exchange at the top is not sufficient. It is fundamental that the faithful are also involved, and this takes time," Kasper said.
He went on to say, "A full union doesn't mean uniformist unity. The Orthodox tradition and the Latin one are at bottom the same faith but different expressions, and this diversity is also a richness. Therefore nobody thinks to impose the Latin system on the Orthodox Churches or viceversa. It will be the Holy Spirit who will grant us this unity, but it will be a unity in pluriformity, a pluriformity in unity," the Pontifical Council chair said.
According to him, the problem "that cannot be overcome overnight" between the two Churches is the question of Petrine primacy.
"Long discussions will be needed, and these have begun in our meetings in Belgrade and Ravenna. We will see how it will end... I am not just superficially optimistic. Hope sustains me," the cardinal summed up.