He He asked today for peace in and throughout the world after remembering the 60th anniversary of the historic meeting in between and the Orthodox Patriarch the first step towards overcoming the differences that have existed for centuries between both churches.

“Let us pray for peace in the Middle East, in Palestine, in Israel, in Ukraine, throughout the world“, urged the pontiff, who referred to the “so many victims of the war, so many dead and so much destruction” when he addressed the thousands of faithful gathered at the St. Peter’s Square after the prayer of Angelusthis Saturday, for the celebration of the Epiphany.

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Previously, Francis had recalled the historic meeting between the two religious leaders in 1964 and which is considered the first step towards the declaration the following year in which the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church revoked the mutual excommunication that dated back to 1054.

“60 years ago, just these days, Pope Saint Paul VI and the ecumenical patriarch Athenagoras were found in Jerusalembreaking a wall of isolation that for centuries had kept Catholics and Orthodox apart“said the pontiff.

“Let us learn from these two greats of the church and move forward on the path of Christian unity, praying together, walking together, working together.”he added.

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AND “Thinking about that historic gesture of brotherhood carried out in Jerusalem, let us pray for peace in middle Eastin Palestinein Israelin UkraineWorldwide“he exhorted.

On January 5, 1964, Patriarch Athenagoras visited Pope Paul VI, who was traveling in Holy Landat the headquarters of the pontifical delegation in Jerusalem and the next day, Epiphany Day, Paul VI visited Athenagoras at the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarchate of the same city, taking a fundamental step in the rapprochement between both churches.

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