Pubblichiamo di seguito la dichiarazione rilasciata dal Card. Walter Kasper, Presidente del Pontificio Consiglio per la promozione dell’Unità dei Cristiani, in merito alla morte avvenuta questa mattina del Patriarca di Mosca e di tutte le Russie, Sua Santità Alessio II:

We have learned with profound sadness of the death of His Holiness Alexis II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Patriarch Alexis was called to guide the Russian Orthodox Church in a period of great change, and his leadership has enabled that Church to face the challenges of transition from the Soviet era to the present with renewed interior vitality. He was instrumental in fostering the enormous growth of dioceses, parishes, monasteries and educational institutions which have given new life to a Church sorely tested for so long.

I recall my many meetings with His Holiness, who always made a point of expressing his goodwill towards the Holy Father and his desire to strengthen collaboration with the Catholic Church. His personal commitment to improving relations with the Catholic Church, in spite of the difficulties and tensions which from time to time have emerged, has never been in doubt.

We join the hierarchy and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church in commending Patriarch Alexis to our heavenly Father's eternal love, that he may be rewarded for his long and dedicated ministry to the Church he loved.

Walter Cardinal Kasper

President

Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity

[01881-02.01] [Original text: English]