Zagreb, (IKA) – On April 6, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Jovan Pavlović of Zagreb-Ljubljana, participated in a forum of the Croatian Association of Catholic Journalists in Zagreb. The topic of discussion was “The Role and Significance of Christianity and the Gospels in Europe.” Metropolitan Jovan emphasized that he supports improved cooperation between the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church, and added that the Serbian Orthodox Church, besides its own churches, will also assist in the rebuilding of Catholic churches, monasteries and convents that were destroyed during the war. He said that Croatia has the goal of entering Europe as soon as possible, noting that such entry should resolve some very complex problems. He devoted part of his presentation to the pontifical office of Pope John Paul II, who made great strides in bringing religions closer together in the area of ecumenicism, adding that he was the first pope to have visited a synagogue, mosque and, after one thousand years, the Constantinople Patriarchiate in the year 2000 in celebration of the great Christian jubilee.
Christianity, by virtue of its mission and as understood by Pope John Paul II, must create room for coexistence with other religions, said Metropolitan Jovan. He expressed satisfaction that we in our lands are witnesses to a rich Christian life in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches because there is the need to build new churches and temples. The Metropolitan expressed the opinion that modern man is in great need of moral and spiritual renewal, and sincere dialogue among Christians.
In response to a question on the engagement of Catholic and Orthodox intellectuals for the betterment of the society, he said that they are faced with the same responsibility when, for example, the safeguarding of human life from conception to birth and opposition to same-sex marriages are in question, because the Bible teaches us that marriage is only valid between a man and a woman.
The Metropolitan also spoke about the repercussions of the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, that ended in armed conflict, noting that this dissolution could have been conducted with less pain. He touched upon the urgent question of refugees from one and the other nation, stating that in this problem there are various types of manipulation and the refugee problem is being resolved slowly and with difficulty.
In respond to a question on the status of the Macedonian Church, the Metropolitan said that the Macedonian Church has declared itself autocephalic, in disobedience to canon law, and therefore not a single Orthodox Church recognizes it.
He stated that community among churches and religions is important in overcoming the spiritual afflictions that characterize modern humanity such as secularism, satanism various sects and other forms that turn Christians away from the true faith.