Acta Francisci Pp. 1331

excommunications has been replaced by the logic of love and brotherhood,

represented by our fraternal embrace.

While not all differences between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches

were brought to an end, there now existed the conditions necessary to jour-

ney towards re-establishing the "full communion of faith, fraternal accord

and sacramental life which existed among them during the first thousand

years of the life of the Church" ( Joint Catholic-Orthodox Declaration, 7

December 1965). Having restored a relationship of love and fraternity, in

a spirit of mutual trust, respect and charity, there is no longer any imped-

iment to Eucharistic communion which cannot be overcome through prayer,

the purification of hearts, dialogue and the affirmation of truth. Indeed,

where there is love in the life of the Church, its source and fulfilment is

always to be found in Eucharistic love. So too the symbol of the fraternal

embrace finds its most profound truth in the embrace of peace exchanged

in the Eucharistic celebration.

In order to progress on our journey towards the full communion for

which we long, we need continually to draw inspiration from the gesture

of reconciliation and peace by our venerable predecessors Paul VI and

Athenagoras I. At all levels and in every context of Church life, relations

between Catholics and Orthodox must increasingly reflect the logic of love

that leaves no room for the spirit of rivalry. Theological dialogue itself, sus-

tained by mutual charity, must continue to examine carefully the questions

which divide us, aiming always at deepening our shared understanding of

revealed truth. Motivated by God's love, we must together offer the world

a credible and effective witness to Christ's message of reconciliation and

salvation.

The world today has great need of reconciliation, particularly in light

of so much blood which has been shed in recent terrorist attacks. May we

accompany the victims with our prayers, and renew our commitment to

lasting peace by promoting dialogue between religious traditions, for "indif-

ference and mutual ignorance can only lead to mistrust and unfortunately

even conflict" ( Common Declaration, Jerusalem 2014).

I wish to express my deep appreciation for Your Holiness's fervent com-

mitment to the critical issue of care for creation, for which your sensitivity

and awareness is an exemplary witness for Catholics. I believe that it is a

hopeful sign for Catholics and Orthodox that we now celebrate together an