| Catholic-Syrian Orthodox cooperation can be a model: Pope

Vatican City: The 18th session of the International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches was held at the Vatican. The commission members held a meeting with Pope Francis. The Pope explained the contemporary relevance of ecumenism and what ecumenism and the communion of churches should be. Referring specifically to the 1984 and 1994 agreements with the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Pope recalled that they could serve as a good model for the collective cooperation and work of the Churches.

In the Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Churches, studies on the importance and place of the Virgin Mary in the faith, worship and traditions of the churches have begun. The commission prepared the joint document in the light of five years of studies and discussions on the importance of sacraments in church life.

26 delegates from the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Catholic Church participated. The Syrian Orthodox Church was represented by Dr. Kuriakos More Theofilos, Dr. Eugene More Polykarpos also participated.