Abstract: În perioada 31 mai-2 iunie 2019, Sanctitatea Sa Papa Francisc a întreprins, la invitația autorităților Statului Român și a Bisericii Catolice din România, o vizită în țara noastră. În prima zi a acestei vizite, vineri – 31 mai, a avut loc și o întâlnire dintre Conducătorul Bisericii Romano-Catolice și Patriarhul Bisericii Ortodoxe Române. Delegația condusă de Papa Francisc a fost primită, la Palatul Patriarhiei, de Preafericitul Părinte Patriarh Daniel, în prezența ierarhilor Sinodului Permanent al Bisericii Ortodoxe Române. Evenimentul istoric a culminat cu vizita celor doi conducători de Biserici la Catedrala Națională, unde s-a desfășurat un moment solemn în spiritul păcii, frățietății creștinești și dialogului interconfesional.
Keywords: His Sanctity Pope Francis, Roman-Catholic Church of Romania, Patriarch Daniel, meeting
Summary: Between 31 May-2 June 2019, His Sanctity Pope Francis conducted a visit to our country, at the invitation extended by the President of Romania, the Romanian state authorities and the Roman-Catholic Church of Romania. On the first day of this visit, Friday 31 May, the Head of the Roman-Catholic Church met with the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The delegation led by Pope Francis was welcomed at the Patriarchal Palace by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, in the presence of bishops, members of the Standing Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The introduction of the two delegations was followed by a private meeting between His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and Pope Francis, then in Conventus Hall – the Patriarchal Palace, were delivered the official addresses on this occasion. In his welcome address to the Head of the Roman-Catholic Church, Patriarch Daniel spoke about the meeting between Patriarch Teoctist and Pope John Paul II, 20 years earlier, and highlighted the historic, reconciliatory nature of that papal visit, stressing the importance of the current visit for safeguarding the Christian values, in the context of an increasingly secularized world. In his turn, His Sanctity Pope Francis reiterated the importance of the visit paid by Pope John Paul II to Romania, which he described as „an Easter gift, an event that contributed not only to renewed relations between Orthodox and Catholics in Romania, but also to the Orthodox- Catholic dialogue in general”, and he urged for „journeying together” towards the future, embarking on a common journey based on faith, trust and friendship, rediscovering the fraternity that unites us. (see all the article in pdf doc)
Marinel Laurențiu Marcu – secretar de redacție al Revistei Biserica Ortodoxă Română din cadrul Departamentului Editurile Patriarhiei; Doctorand în cadrul Şcolii de Studii Avansate a Academiei Române.
E-mail: marinellmarcu@patriarhia.ro
