Pope Francis and Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew Discuss Serious Possibility of Common Date to Celebrate Easter

Patriarch Bartholomew proposed to the Pope: LET'S CELEBRATE CATHOLIC AND ORTHODOX EASTER TOGETHER! 

«To finally set a common date to celebrate Easter, both on the Orthodox and on the Catholic side, there is this good intention. I spoke about it with His Holiness Pope Francis in Bahrain". In the throne room at the Fanar, in the Greek quarter of Istanbul, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew thus responded by meeting a large group of priests and journalists who stopped at the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate during an itinerary that traces the origins of the community Christian from Antioch, Tarsus to Istanbul promoted by the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi of the diocese of Rome, which in the footsteps of the Apostles resumes its travels in Turkey after the blockade of the Covid years.

Ecumenical Patriarch to Pope Francis: We finally set a common date to celebrate the Resurrection. Let it be a common goal on behalf of Iznik Council! There is this goodwill to finally set a common date to celebrate Easter on both the Orthodox and Catholic side. I have spoken this with Pope Francis in Bahrain. 

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos stressed that the joint celebration of the Resurrection of Christ can be put on the agenda of the anniversary preparations of the Iznik Council, the first Ecumenical Council. “Seventeen centuries, we are getting ready. This Ecumenical Council dated 325 was crucial in determining the content of our Christian faith, but also crucial in determining Easter date, how and when Easter will be celebrated. Unfortunately, we haven't celebrated together for centuries ». And this is a project of our efforts in the context of the anniversary - explains Bartholomew - a solution must be found. The Pope has expressed his goodwill. Perhaps I don't need to say more tangible things at the moment, but I would like to say and emphasize that you are on the Orthodox side, and on the Catholic side, you have good intention to finally set a common date to celebrate His Resurrection. We hope we get a good result this time". 

Source: AVVENIRE Newspaper Stefania Falasca - Friday, November 11, 2022: