Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

APPENDIX X
TELEGRAM FROM H.H POPE JOHN PAUL II TO H.H. POPE SHENOUDA
III
January 26th, 1985
When Patriarch Shenouda III took up his full patriarchal duties once again after
having been placed under house arrest at St. Bishoy Monastery by the Egyptian
government, Pope John Paul II sent him the following telegram:
At this time when Christians are gladdened by the light of the birth and Epiphany of
our Saviour, I am also glad to join in the joy of your Church at the return of its Pastor.
Now that you are once again able to proclaim the Word of God to your people and to
celebrate the Divine Mysteries with them, I offer thanks to God and pray that he will
bless your ministry.
As soon as possible a delegation from our Church will visit you both to bring you my
good wishes and to discuss with you how we can best pursue together that journey of
hope by which the Lord is leading us towards full communion.
In the love of Christ.
June 28th, 1985
EXCERPT FROM THE SPEECH OF POPE JOHN PAUL II TO THE ROMAN
CURIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE XXV ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FOUNDING OF THE SECRETARIAT FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN
UNITY
At the same time, before you I express my joy at knowing that His Holiness Pope
Shenouda III, patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, has been able to reassume all
his responsibilities at the head of his Church. We shall therefore be able to reopen our
dialogue, and, with determination on the one and on the other side, let it proceed
without further delays in the will to overcome in the fullness of truth those doctrinal
divisions, which still exist. There is also a need to dispel the disputes and
condemnations of the past far from our memory and confide them to God’s mercy.
We must set to work building a future together which shall be more in conformity
with Christ’s will for unity for all his disciples.
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