Pope Benedict XVI and Orthodox Unity

Here are two stories:

Pope tells Cypriot Orthodox leader he holds ‘firm hope’ for Christian unity

Associated Press – June 16, 2007

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI told a visiting Cypriot Orthodox leader Saturday that he holds hope that the Catholic and Orthodox churches can be united, despite centuries of painful division.

The churchmen also explored how the two sides could work together on social, moral and bioethical issues, including same-sex marriage and embryonic stem cell research. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070616-1504-vatican-orthodox.html

And the Orthodox Patriarch apparently agrees:

Alexy II Favors Ecumenical Ties

Says Orthodox-Catholic Partnership Is Important

Zenit – June 15, 2007

MOSCOW – Expanding cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church will have significant implications for the future of Europe, according to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia…

Alexy II regretted that relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and Catholics in Russia are not always problem-free: “http://www.zenit.org/article-19890?l=english

Pope Benedict XVI has repeatedly and publicly stated that he is determined to obtain greater unity with the Eastern Orthodox.

Part of the reason why is that Roman Catholic prophecy specifically states that the East and Western churches will unite and that Rome will dominate:

One prophecy, that was given no later than 1202, by a Catholic abbott named Joachim states:

A remarkable Pope will be seated on the pontifical throne, under special protection of the angels. Holy and full of gentleness, he shall undo all wrong, he shall recover the states of the Church, and reunite the exiled temporal powers. As the only Pastor, he shall reunite the Eastern to the Western Church…This holy Pope shall be both pastor and reformer. Through him the East and West shall be in ever lasting concord. The city of Babylon shall then be the head and guide of the world. Rome, weakened in temporal power, shall forever preserve her spiritual dominion, and shall enjoy great peace…At the beginning, in order to bring these happy results, having need of a powerful assistance, this holy Pontiff will ask the cooperation of the generous monarch of France (Great Monarch). (Cited in Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, pp. 31-32).

Biblical prophecy states that there will be a major unifying religion that it calls “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:5)–but one that the Bible warns against. The Orthodox (and all others) need to heed the Bible and “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:4-5).

For more information, please see the article:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What does religion have to do with this?