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Link to the article [ interfax-religion.com] Meeting possible between Pope, Patriarch Kirill - Archbishop Hilarion
Moscow, November 12, Interfax - Relations between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches are improving and a meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, may be on the cards, a Russian Orthodox bishop said.
"Today it can be said that we are moving to a moment when it becomes possible to prepare a meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch of Moscow," Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, the head of the Department for External Church Relations, told reporters in Moscow.
"There are no specific plans for the venue or timing of such a meeting but on both sides there is a desire to prepare it," the Archbishop said.
Preparations for such a meeting must involve finding "a common platform on all remaining points of dispute," the Archbishop said.
One such issue are relations between the Uniate community and Orthodox believers in Ukraine. In the early 1990s, "the fragile interdenominational balance was upset and a serious situation took shape that still exists," Archbishop Hilarion said.
At the same time, conversion of Orthodox believers into Catholicism is less of a problem today than it was a decade ago, he said.
Benedict XVI is "a very reserved, traditional man who does not seek the expansion of the Catholic Church to traditionally Orthodox regions," the Archbishop said.
When Benedict XVI, shortly after being elected Pope, met with Metropolitan Kirill (the present Russian Patriarch, then head of the DECR, a papal visit to Russia "was taken off the agenda as now it appears to us to be impossible," the bishop said.
After Metropolitan Kirill has been elected Patriarch, "one can hope for further steps" in Orthodox-Catholic dialogue because the Patriarch "will continue the line on relations with Christians of other denominations that he pursued as part of his former activities," the Archbishop said.
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Za myr z'wysot ... Member
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Peter, Thanks for posting this. "There are no specific plans for the venue or timing of such a meeting but on both sides there is a desire to prepare it," the Archbishop said.  Preparations for such a meeting must involve finding "a common platform on all remaining points of dispute," the Archbishop said. Since the ownership of Church properties is one major point of dispute, I would like to see some kind of agreement by both sides that would take care of not only existing disputes, but future ones as well. For example, we could start by agreeing that no one will keep a parish property if there is an insufficient number of faithful or clergy to maintain it while the "other" group (Catholic or Orthodox) is in a better position to make use of it. While I realize it would be difficult to get all parties to "buy in" on this kind of thing, it is precisely this kind of "put God back in charge" thinking that we will need if we are really serious about pursuing unity. Peace, Deacon Richard
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Sooner or later, an autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be recognized by Moscow and by the rest of the Orthodox Churches.
This will mean that the vast majority of Greek Catholics in Ukraine will freely join the newly recognized Ukrainian Orthodox National Church.
This way, the Greek Catholic Church will no longer threat Orthodoxy in the Ukraine, and Moscow will seek better relations with the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.
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"This will mean that the vast majority of Greek Catholics in Ukraine will freely join the newly recognized Ukrainian Orthodox National Church."
Well let's hope not!
Alexis
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This will mean that the vast majority of Greek Catholics in Ukraine will freely join the newly recognized Ukrainian Orthodox National Church. Well let's hope not! Let's hope not, indeed ... but if this does happen, let us not refuse to let "them" have the buildings we no longer need. If we really see the EOs as brothers, this should not seem so strange. If we do not, however, it means that we're still not ready for reunion! Peace, Deacon Richard
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I think it is very far fetched to think that the majority of Greek Catholic in Ukraine will join a united Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The UGCC and her members believe in the necessity of being in Communion with the Pope of Rome, the Orthodox don't. The hundreds if not thousands of Greek Catholics who suffered to retain unity with Rome during the Communist era are proof of that. Also the example of the Blessed Martyr Theodore and the other Martyrs shine forth in the UGCC and all Eastern Catholic Churches. I don't think Orthodoxy has anything to fear of "Unaitism", sine the Catholic Communion since Vatican II has renounced it. Greek Catholics will reunite with our sister Orthodox Churches, God willing soon, when the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are reunited in the Common cup of Salvation that our Lord wills for his Church. I pray the Pope and the Patriarch have a very fruitful meeting, if they do meet. 
Last edited by Nelson Chase; 11/14/09 02:52 AM. Reason: spelling
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I also don't think it follows logically that if an autocephalous Ukrainian church is recognised UGCC members will join it.
There are still Russian Eastern Catholics, for whom the lack of a hierarchy and small numbers do not cause them to unite with the Orthodox church. Why should the Ukrainians be different?
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Since the ownership of Church properties is one major point of dispute, I would like to see some kind of agreement by both sides that would take care of not only existing disputes, but future ones as well. For example, we could start by agreeing that no one will keep a parish property if there is an insufficient number of faithful or clergy to maintain it while the "other" group (Catholic or Orthodox) is in a better position to make use of it.
While I realize it would be difficult to get all parties to "buy in" on this kind of thing, it is precisely this kind of "put God back in charge" thinking that we will need if we are really serious about pursuing unity. Deacon Richard: Christ is in our midst!! He is and always will be!! What about the far more radical idea of people sharing a temple? I know that's anathema to some, but the back-and-forth that has gone on in that area for so long almost makes this the only sane solution. Western Ukrainians have a long history of looking to the West and the Easterners have long looked to the MP. I get that impression from both reading the history of the are, but also from conversations with people whose ancestors come from that area. Then there are areas where both parties are about evenly divided. BOB
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Such sharing is explicitly permitted by the CCEO.
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In Syria and Lebanon, there in each one a church shared by melkites and orthodoxs.
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Why not share Churches?
God grant the day that our Churches may be united in a true spirit of fraternal love.
Stephanos I
If not now, when? If not us, who?
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