Orthodox and Catholics Join in Athens Conference

ATHENS, Greece, AUG. 19, 2004 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican official sent a message to an Athens conference promoting «a vision of the world where peoples engage in a peaceful and loyal competition.»

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Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, sent that message to the conference whose theme was «Religion, Peace and the Olympic Ideal.»

Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople presided at the Aug. 10-11 conference.

Cardinal Kasper was unable to attend the event, but sent an address, which was read by the papal nuncio in Greece.

In his address the cardinal emphasized the «importance of a vision of the world where peoples engage in a peaceful and loyal competition, forgetting their legitimate interests.» Thus he recalled John Paul II’s words on the importance of the Olympic Games as a fraternal competition.

Organizers said the conference aimed to present «the vision of a world in which all peoples, in peaceful competition and a harmonious society, pursue their legitimate interests, beyond discrimination, and contribute to the construction of a harmonious society, free, just and respectful of human values.»

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