Patriarch Irinej said that the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has yet to decide on whether it would invite Pope Benedict XVI to visit Serbia in 2013.Regarding the celebration of 1,700 years since the Edict of Milan in Niš, Irinej said that he expect leaders of all Christian churches to attend, since it is one of the most important dates of the religion.
“It is logical to expect the Roman Catholic Pope as well, but at this moment we cannot confirm his visit to Serbia for sure,” the Patriarch told daily Press.
He said that the SPC is not discussing this issue at the moment.
“This issue was taken off the agenda until the time comes for making a decision on whether he would be invited. We are not thinking about it or discussing it now,” Irinej said.
The Patriarch said that he believes that Niš can organize such a celebration in a dignified manner for all senior officials who will be attending.
“We do not know at this moment who will come and whether the Pope will be among the guests. We have not sent any officials invitations yet,” Patriarch Irinej said.
Asked whether the celebration in Niš could be the beginning of the end for all divisions in the Christian church, Irinej said that it would be a “a definite chance for Orthodox believers and our closest religious communities to meet with other churches and communities for the first time, to return to that time, the great beginning of Christian thought.”
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