Pubblichiamo di seguito l’indirizzo di omaggio rivolto al Santo Padre dal Capo della Delegazione del Patriarcato Ecumenico di Costantinopoli, Sua Eminenza Demetrios, Arcivescovo greco ortodosso d’America, al termine della Celebrazione Eucaristica di ieri, Solennità dei Santi Apostoli Pietro e Paolo:

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Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving and indivisible Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Your Holiness Pope John Paul II:

We are here today, the Right Reverend Bishop Theodoretos of Nanzianzos, the Very Reverend Great Archimandrite Athenagoras, and myself, representing His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, in order to convey to Your Holiness our warmest congratulations and brotherly wishes on the solemn Feast of the Great Apostles Peter and Paul, the patron Saints of the venerable Church of Rome. We also have the distinct honor to congratulate Your Holiness on the completion of twenty-five years of dynamic ministry as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. A ministry marked by a sustained effort to promote peace in the name of God, and reconciliation among people, and to facilitate the overcoming of the tragic separation and division of our Churches, so that the Apostolic legacy of unity and love, and the fervent prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ "that all His disciples be one in Him" (John 17:21), may finally be realized.

Your ministry has taken place within a difficult time for thc whole of humanity. A humanity that has seen dramatic sociopolitical changes, uncontrolled tendencies towards globalization, unprecedented technological developments, and growing terrorism and ecological catastrophes.

However, in the midst of such rather massive challenges, we have witnessed within the past twenty-five years, the sustained and dynamic efforts of both Your Holiness Pope John Paul II and His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for peace, reconciliation, the preservation of the environment, and for the restoration of the blessed unity among our Churches. Considerable steps have been taken towards this unity and our prayer is that many more will follow, so that our fallen and broken world will have an even greater witness for the possibility of healing and reconciliation, seeing the beautiful and powerful bonds of love that unite us in faith and service to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Expressing our sincere gratitude for the magnificent and brotherly hospitality you have offered to us, and for the wonderful opportunity to participate in this joyous celebration, we reiterate our warmest wishes to Your Holiness and to the Church of Rome, as we honor the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

And to our God and Lord, "who is able to do far more than what we can ask or think, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, unto the ages of ages. Amen." (Eph 3:21-22).

Polla ta eti Sas, May your years be many, Your Holiness.

[01064-XX.02] [Testo originale: Plurilingue]