Roman Catholic and Orthodox theologians reported promising progress  in talks on overcoming their Great Schism of 1054 and bringing the two largest denominations in Christianity back to full communion. “There are no clouds of mistrust between our two churches,” Orthodox Metropolitan John Zizioulas of Pergamon said at a news conference. “If we continue like that, God will find a way to overcome all the difficulties that remain.”

Archbishop Kurt Koch, the top Vatican official for Christian unity, said the joint dialogue must continue “intensively” so that “we see each other fully as sister churches.” The churches split in 1054 over the primacy of the Pope. Benedict XVI has close ties to the spiritual leader of the Orthodox, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul, and hopes to meet Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has shown great interest in better ties.

Reuters – Vienna