This witness of Orthodoxy is much more necessary and imperative today, as Divine Providence has reserved us to behold the indeed rapid cosmogonic evolutions and changes in the life of the people of the world; evolutions and changes which bring to contemporary man the hope of a better future, a future of peace, freedom and respect of human dignity. These rapid rearrangements have taken place and are still taking place mostly in countries and among peoples which are, by tradition, Orthodox and, therefore, it is mainly the Orthodox Churches which are more influenced by them. It is therefore natural, particularly for the Orthodox Churches, to be called to vigilance, collaboration and service, so that these developments might indeed result in what will benefit man, who suffered greatly in our century.

Orthodoxy has much, much more to offer to the world of today. In Orthodoxy, one cannot only find the correct faith in the true God, but also the correct perception of man as the image of God, of the world, and of creation.

We extend the kiss of peace and love to the venerable Primates of the Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, and Syrian -- in Damascus and in Malabar -- Churches. Their closeness to us in the Orthodox faith leads us today to the active quest, with possible early results, for the common confession of faith and expression in the common Chalice.