I received this via e-mail from VIS.

VATICAN CITY, NOV 17, 2005 (VIS) - Yesterday in Athens, Greece, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church, officially presented a copy of the manuscript of the "Menologue of Basil II," which is held in the Vatican Apostolic Library. The Menologue is a liturgical or hagiographic text of the Church of Greek rite, dating from 985.
In a Message sent to the cardinal for the occasion, the Holy Father affirms that he "learned with interest of the collaboration between the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Greek Orthodox Church for the publication" of this work of art.



Benedict XVI asks Cardinal Tauran to express to His Beatitude Christodoulos, archbishop of Athens and of all Greece, "my fraternal and cordial greetings, and my great satisfaction for this important event, fruit of the new relations established following the unforgettable visit to Athens by my venerable predecessor, His Holiness John Paul II, on the occasion of his Jubilee pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Paul the Apostle. With joy I note the growth of ever more active cooperation between the Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church."



"On this occasion," writes the Pope in his Message to the cardinal, "I charge you to inform His Beatitude Christodoulos that it would be a joy for me to welcome him in Rome, so that together we may show that another stage has been covered on the journey of reconciliation and cooperation. Pass on my heartfelt desire to develop ever more intense relations of trust and fraternity, in order to carry out many works of evangelization together. Among other things, we could give European nations greater help in reaffirming their Christian roots, to find that nourishing and fruitful sap for their own future and for the good of people and of all society. It will be a way to announce together the Good News of Christ to the modern world, which needs it so badly."



"We will also give an ever stronger response to the ardent desire expressed by the Lord: 'May all be one," until the day comes ... when we can celebrate fully restored communion."

MESS/MANUSCRIPT:UNITY/GREECE:TAURAN VIS 051117 (370

Amen.

and Amen.

-ray