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Cardinal Parolin”€™s Trip To Russia: Sign Of Renewed Path

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Cardinal Parolin”€™s Trip To Russia: Sign Of  Renewed Path

VATICAN CITY, AUGUST 20, 2017 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican Secretary of State highlights the urgency of “€œa more effective cooperation between the different Confessions”€ and of a “€œgreater understanding between the Churches.”€

Here is our english translation of the synthesis by Vatican Radio (Alessandro Gisotti) of Cardinal Parolin’s interview by Tass Agency, on the occasion of his Trip to Russia (August 21-24, 2017): “Sign of a Renewed Path.

On the eve of his important visit to Russia, the Cardinal Secretary of State , Pietro Parolin, gave a long and articulated interview to the Russian Agency TASS. The Cardinal stressed first of all that the meeting with the “€œOrthodox hierarchy attests to the openness established in recent years up to last year”€™s meeting in Havana”€ between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill. The meeting, noted Cardinal Parolin, “€œserved to give new eyes to see one another not predominantly on the background of the past, but of that of “€œdesired and pursued communion.”€ The Cardinal added that this is the condition necessary “€œto be able to give new and unprecedented steps for the development of the ecumenical dialogue”€ between Catholics and Orthodox. It”€™s a path that requires “€œlove, patience, tenacity and commitment.”€ And in this connection, he mentioned the initiative of the relics of Saint Nicholas, which arrived at Moscow from Bari, and were received with “€œenthusiasm and devotion”€ by the Russian faithful, in the more than two months of permanence in the capital and in St. Petersburg.

Responding to a question on the crisis of values being experienced in today”€™s world, the Vatican Secretary of State highlighted the urgency of “€œa more effective cooperation between the different Confessions.”€ “€œAn ever greater understanding between the Churches will also be able to make its contribution through the sharing of experiences lived in different regions.”€

Then, answering a question on terrorism, a danger, he stressed, that must be addressed, pondering, however, “€œwith much care on the eventual ways of intervention, in order to avoid actions of force triggering in turn new spirals of violence.”€ The work of the Church, specified the Cardinal, “€œis always long-term, made up of education and the formation of consciences,”€ and he recalled that, in the last decades, the Holy See spared no efforts to “€œstart, consolidate and sometimes renew relations of dialogue at the cultural and religious level, but especially at the socio-humanitarian level.”€

Hence, Tass agency asked Cardinal Parolin to reflect on Trump”€™s Presidency. The Vatican Secretary of State hoped that the American President, “€œlike all the other actors of the International Community, will not desist from the challenge”€ of “€œpursuing a reduction of the global overheating of the planet.”€ And widening the horizon, he warned that in international relations “€œthe awareness matures increasingly that policies and strategies based on open and heated confrontations ,”€ almost “€œa dialogue between the deaf,”€ or worse, “€œfuelled by fear and the terror of atomic or chemical arms, don”€™t open the door to just and lasting solutions to problems among the nations.”€ It”€™s necessary to listen to Pope Francis, exhorted the Cardinal, when asking the world leaders to “€œbuild peace”€ and “€œnot shut themselves in national or partial interests.

Finally, Cardinal Parolin answered a question about the grave situation in Venezuela., a country the Cardinal knows well, having been the Apostolic Nuncio ay Caracas before becoming Secretary of State. He stressed that the “€œHoly See is very committed to fostering a peaceful and democratic solution, even in the midst of many misunderstandings.”€ Once again he said that the path “€œis always the same.”€ “€œThey must meet, create an atmosphere of trust.”€ Cardinal Parolin recalled the serious humanitarian crisis the country is experiencing and he appealed to the International Community and friendly countries of Venezuela   to “€œgive their disinterested and peaceful aid so that there is a positive evolution.”€

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