VATICAN AND SERB ORTHODOX CHURCH WANT TO DRAW CLOSER

BELGRADE, May 15 (Hina) - Valter Kasper, the president of the Vatican Papal Council for the Promotions of Unity Amongst Christians on Wednesday stated in Belgrade that the Vatican and Serb Orthodox Church wished to mutually draw closer to each other. #L# Cardinal Kasper on Wednesday ended a five-day visit to Yugoslavia during which he met with representatives of the Serb Orthodox Church and forwarded an invitation to visit the Vatican. Kasper visited Orthodox churches and spoke with Church officials including Patriarch Pavle, as well as with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and Serb Prime Minister Zoran Djindic and other ministers and officials. The visit was of an ecumenical nature - and was his first to the Serb Orthodox Church, Cardinal Kasper said at a press conference. He emphasised that during his talks with Patriarch Pavle, Kasper concluded that the two Churches wish to come closer. We wish to take a further step Kasper said noting three important steps: a visit by a delegation of the Holy Synod of the Serb Orthodox Church to Rome, support to theological studies offered in Rome and other Catholic Faculties and opening a centre to exchange Eastern and Western cultures, art and media. Speaking about a possible visit by Pope John Paul II to Belgrade, Kasper said that the Holy Father would certainly be pleased to come and embrace Patriarch Pavle but that they were not sure that all the preconditions required for such a trip had been established. He added that the Pope's coming visit to Bulgaria indicated how much the Pope sees in Eastern Europe and how important relations with Orthodox Churches are as these are the closest to our Church, Kasper said stressing that this new form of commonness can only be possible through dialogue. (hina) sp sb