Pontifical Council Implements Pope’s Call for ‘Court of the Gentiles’

Court of the Gentiles in Jerusalem

From Catholic World News

In his 2009 year-end address to the Roman Curia, Pope Benedict reflected on the role of the ‘Court of the Gentiles’ at the temple in Jerusalem: it was “a free space for the Gentiles who wished to pray there to the one God, even if they could not take part in the mystery for whose service the inner part of the Temple was reserved.” He added:

I think that today too the Church should open a sort of "Court of the Gentiles" in which people might in some way latch on to God, without knowing him and before gaining access to his mystery, at whose service the inner life of the Church stands. Today, in addition to interreligious dialogue, there should be a dialogue with those to whom religion is something foreign, to whom God is unknown and who nevertheless do not want to be left merely Godless, but rather to draw near to him, albeit as the Unknown.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, Msgr. Peter Fleetwood discussed how the Pontifical Council for Culture is implementing the Pope’s call for a ‘Court of the Gentiles’: debates, meetings, and dramas are planned, beginning with meetings in Paris at the Sorbonne and UNESCO.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Courtyard of the Gentiles (Vatican Radio)
• Pope Benedict: Christmas Address to the Roman Curia (2009)

Vatican, Moscow Patriarchate to Co-Sponsor Events on Russian Culture

From Catholic World News

The Pontifical Council for Culture has announced plans for a 2-day festival of Russian culture and spirituality. The initiative is co-sponsored by the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow.

Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, said that Archbishop Hilarion, the head of the ecumenical-affairs department for the Moscow patriarchate, will lead a Russian delegation in Rome for the events of May 19-20. Before arriving in Rome the Russian delegation will visit Ravenna, Milan, Turin, and Bologna.

The events of May 19 will include a photographic exhibition on the life of the Russian Orthodox Church today, and a symposium on the cooperative efforts of Catholic and Orthodox leaders to preserve Europe's Christian identity.

Archbishop Hilarion will preside at a celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Rome's Orthodox church on May 20. That evening, in the Vatican auditorium, the Russian national orchestra will give a concert to honor Pope Benedict XVI. The concert will be sponsored by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Days of Russian Culture and Spirituality in the Vatican (VIS)