Pope Benedict and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I To Open Pauline Year Together

This has really caught my attention over at the Ratzinger Forum in their Benedict section.

The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced today that Benedict XVI will preside at first Vespers at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, eve of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, to inaugurate the Pauline Year (2008-2009) in the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls. The ceremony will be attended by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and by representatives of other Churches and Christian communities.


Patriarch Bartholomew's participation in this weekend celebrations in Rome will mark further unprecedented steps in Carholic-Orthodox relations, according to this notification today, translated here.



PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW I TO JOIN BENEDICT XVI IN HOMILY ON THE FEAST OF SAINTS PETER & PAUL
On Sunday, June 29, Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the Holy Father Benedict XVI will celebrate the Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, with the participation of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I. The Patriarch and the Holy Father will deliver the homily, recite the profession of faith [the Creed] together and impart the blessing. Concelebrating with the Holy Father are the new Metropolitan Archbishops on whom the Pontiff will impose the sacred Pallium at the Confessio (Altar) of the Apostle Peter.

This is major and blessed News. Also for my Louisiana readers please note that is mentioned Louisiana and New Orlean's native son , Arch Bishop Thomas John Rodi, of Mobile, Alabama (USA) will be concelebrating. It is an exciting times of Orthodoxs and Catholics. May we all be one again soon.

More update and links later on

Updates-
As I pointed out the Pauline Year is not to be Vatican/Rome Thing alone. Orthodox-Catholic visits for the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul is a post that looks at todays announcement and how the same thing will be occuring on a local level in Boston

The fact they will both say the Creed jumps out at you. Rorate Caeli asks "What Creed will be used? Without the Filioque - as in Dominus Iesus, 1?"