August 17, 2007

Retired French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray has said that both Pope Benedict and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II want to meet. However he added that the time should be favourable, and no "show" should be made of the event.

Catholic Online reports that the vice-dean of the Vatican's College of Cardinals has warned against pressure to speed up the the much anticipated meeting.

Speaking from Moscow, he said: "Not only the pope and the patriarch wish to meet but our nations want this meeting."

For years, Alexy has been fearful that the Catholic Church has intentions of converting members of the Russian Orthodox Church to Roman Catholicism.

The Cardinal said that members of both churches should pray that the meeting does take place, calling it "a common witness to the one faith."

CathNews