I pray that the spiritual bonds that have always lifted Catholics and Anglicans will be strengthened and deepened even further. Cardinal Cassidy, who is president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, read the message at a service to celebrate the international meeting of bishops, which was led by the Most Revd George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury. A capacity congregation at St Michael's cathedral, which included the Ontario Premier Mike Harris and former Canadian Prime Minister John Turner, applauded at the end of the Pope's message. Pairs of bishops from thirteen regions around the world met in Canada to review thirty years of ecumenical dialogue between Anglicans and Roman Catholics, and to search for common ground for future progress. He also spoke out against some non-Anglican protestants who demonstrated during the meeting against attempts to find unity with Roman Catholics.
Partnership leads to the promise of mutual service and eventual union . . .