Опити на Ватикана да покани Вселенската патриаршия за участие в работата на Втория ватикански събор
The Endeavours of Vatican to invite the Ecumenical Patriarchate to participate in the work of the Second Vatican Council

Summary/Abstract: Two official delegates of Pope John XXIII stay in June 1961 for three days in the head office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople - Archbishop Jacob Testa, the rector of The Pontifical Academy in Rome, and the pious Alfonso Ras, the rector of the Pontifical Institute of Oriental Studies in Rome. The purpose of their visit is to introduce the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the preparation of the Second Vatican Council. On February 14th 1962 John Vilebrands arrived in Constantinople by plane. He is the Secretary of Secretariate for Christian Unity which is under the guidance of Cardinal Augustin Bea. On February 16th members of the Board on Christian matters with the Ecumenical Patriarchate held a meeting with Vilebrands. The visit of Vilebdands in Constantinople is semi-official and its purpose is to pay tribute to His Holiness The Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, to learn about his collaborators in order to fulfill the idea for the rapprochement of Christians and to introduce them to the preparation of different boards in relation to the forthcoming Second Vatican Council which is planned for October 1962. One of the most delicate matters which has to be settled by the Board under the chairmanship of Cardinal Bea is how the Ecumenical Patriarchate and in general the Orthodox Church is to be invited to the Council. That matter the Vatican dignitary wants to consult with the collaborators of Patriarch Athenagoras and to exchange ideas. Undoubtedly these first contacts between senior clergymen allow the East and West church to get closer to each other from the position of Christian love in the name of the common church unity, which is difficult to fulfill, since it is hindered by political reasons, besides the religious ones, of course. Regardless of this the dialogue continues also during the meetings of the Sec¬ond Vatican Council (1962-1965) and it provides the possibility to strengthen the trust between the churches.

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