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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “The Pontifical Oriental Institute is an outstanding example of what Christian wisdom has to offer those who wish to acquire ever deeper knowledge of the eastern Churches and to learn more about their orientation of life according to the Spirit, a theme on which the Christian east has a rich tradition of which it is rightly proud. This is a precious treasure not only for scholars but for all the members of the Church”. This was part of a discourse given by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to a delegation of the Pontifical Oriental Institute received in audience on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Institute's foundation.
Benedict XVI recalled that the Institute was founded by his predecessor Benedict XV on 15 October, a few months after the foundation of the Congregation for Oriental Churches on 1 May. “The Catholic eastern Churches benefited from Institute- the Pope said -, enjoying a regime more suited to their traditions, under the gaze of the Roman Pontiffs, who have never ceased to show their concern with gestures of concrete support; for example inviting many students from the east to come to Rome to learn more about the universal Church. These ecclesial communities have experienced difficult periods and, although physically distant from Rome, they have always been close in their fidelity to the See of Peter. Their progress and their perseverance in times of difficulty would have been unthinkable however without the constant support found at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, a haven of peace and study, a meeting place for many scholars, professors, writers and publishers, including some of the greatest experts on the Christian east ”.
The Holy Father then cited the Institute's Library, founded by Pius XI, “rightly renowned all over the world as one of the best in Europe”, promising to help it to grow as a sign of the Church of Rome's interest in knowledge of the Christian east and a means to eliminate any prejudice which might harm cordial harmony among Christians”. Benedict XVI said he was convinced that “support for study has an ecumenical value, since drawing from the heritage of the wisdom of the Christian east is enriching for all”. “In this regard -Benedict XVI concluded -, the Pontifical Oriental Institute is an outstanding example of what Christian wisdom has to offer those who wish to acquire ever deeper knowledge of the eastern Churches and to learn more about their orientation of life according to the Spirit, a theme on which the Christian east has a rich tradition of which it is rightly proud”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/12/2007; righe 32, parole 440)
