The Joint Committee of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE)and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) were received in a private audience by HIS ALL HOLINESS THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW I yesterday afternoon. The meeting took place at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the framework of the yearly meeting of the CCEE-CEC Joint Committee, which is now in progress in Istanbul (March 7-11, 2010). "It is a great joy for me – said the Patriarch – to welcome here the representatives of the Christian Churches at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a venue which has played a pioneering role in the ecumenical movement. We are all working to the benefit of humankind, and I invite all the Churches to go ahead in their commitment and cooperation to promote a common Christian witness in Europe and in the aim of giving their specific contribution vis-à-vis the many challenges they have to face”. Speaking of the new presidency of Kek which in December was taken over by the metropolitan bishop Emmanuel of France (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Patriarch Bartholomew said: “Since last December, the CEC has begun a new period of its life. The collaboration with the CCEE shall certainly help the common mission of these two bodies in giving a common witness of faith as our faithful expect from us!”.

© SIR - 10 marzo 2010