PRESS RELEASE No. 3

Ecumenism as Encounter

Opening of the European Ecumenical Millennium Encounter 2001 in Strasbourg

Strasbourg, 19 April 2001 - Significant stimuli for ecumenical progress in Europe, for the dialogue between the generations and for the basic issues of Europe's growing together - these are the expectations of Rev. Elfriede Dörr of Romania and Cardinal Karl Lehmann of Germany at the opening of the Seventh European Ecumenical Encounter, which is being held in Strasbourg, France, 19-22 April. At the opening ceremony in Strasbourg University, the two church leaders held an opening dialogue, emphasising the importance of the Charta Oecumenica for strengthening ecumenical awareness in all parts of Europe.

"Now, when ecumenism has come to a standstill in many places, where churches are giving one another the impression that they consider themselves self-sufficient within their confessional boundaries...church leaders and youth need to think together about their life as churches together in Europe," said Dörr. She warned against both "lack of commitment" and "dialogues full of doubt", and called for the "many commitments made at previous ecumenical encounters" to be put into action in the life of the churches.

Cardinal Lehmann recalled that, despite all divisions, "many bridge pilings are still standing" to which the churches can return. Lehmann expects the Charta Oecumenica, which is to be signed on Sunday 22 April, to give decisive impulses towards making ecumenism no longer a matter for the experts, but rather a concern which enters into the hearts and lives of Christians. Not only Christians' spiritual witness, but also their social-ethical commitment must "become a pillar of fundamental common conviction".

Around 100 representatives of the younger generation, and about 50 leaders each from the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) took part in the opening event. The Encounter is being chaired jointly by the two Presidents, Metropolitan Jérémie of CEC) and Cardinal Miloslav Vlk of CCEE. Greetings were received from Pope John Paul II, Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia, and representatives of the local churches and of the city of Strasbourg.