Cardinal Walter Kasper arrived today in Bucharest, where he will meet with leaders of the Orthodox patriarchate, with civil authorities, and with Catholic communities.
The pontifical council said Cardinal Kasper will meet Tuesday with Patriarch Theoctist of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The day will begin with a «paraclisis,» a Byzantine Marian prayer, followed by lunch. The cardinal will bring a gift and a special message to the patriarch from the Pope to mark the fifth anniversary of their historic meeting on May 6, 1999.
Patriarch Theoctist returned that visit by going to Rome in October 2002.
During his visit, Cardinal Kasper will meet with the Latin-rite Catholics, the Greek-Catholics of Romania, and members of the government.
On May 13, he will travel to Cluj-Napoca where he will receive an honorary doctorate at the University of Babes-Boyai.
Cardinal Kasper will deliver an address entitled «Orthodoxy and the Catholic Church 40 Years after the Council Decree ‘Unitatis Redintegratio.'»
In Cluj-Napoca, the cardinal will also visit Lucian Blaga University.
