«My thoughts go to our Eastern brothers, who today celebrate, according to their calendar, the feast of Easter,» the Pope said to the 15,000 faithful gathered on the island of Ischia to attend Mass.
Orthodox Churches, as well as Catholic Churches of Eastern tradition, celebrate Easter according to the Julian calendar.
In the past, John Paul II expressed the hope that the various Christian confessions will come to an agreement on a single date for the celebration of Easter.
John Paul II said today that, with «all our heart, we unite ourselves to their exultation over the resurrection of Christ, praying to our common Lord so that Christians may experience soonest the joy of full unity.»
