SPC denies "negotiations" to allow for pope's visit

BELGRADE The Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) says Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI "never sent a message or a signal to the SPC that he wants to visit Serbia". In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Serbian Church said that this topic "does not exist in the eyes of the Church", and urging media not to produce "false images and impressions". SPC denies "negotiations" to allow for pope's visit "His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has never officially or unofficially, directly or indirectly, hinted or sent a message or a signal to the SPC that he wants to visit Serbia," the SPC release reads. It came after speculation that the pope might receive an invitation from the SPC to visit Serbia for the jubilee of the Edict of Milan - which will honor Rome's first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, born in what is today the Serbian town of Nis. "The topic of the pope's visit to Serbia does not exists for the SPC, and under such circumstances it cannot be discussed within the canonical jurisdictions of the Church," said the statement signed by Bishop Irinej of Backa. It added that "it is not opposition by certain bishops, but rather a unanimous decision of the SPC Holy Synod for the jubilee celebration of the Edict of Milan next year to bring together heads of Orthodox churches and high delegations, rather than dignitaries of foreign, heterodox, Christian churches, the Roman Catholic Church included." Patriarch Irinej underlined that the manner in which the media in Serbia and some in Croatia treat this fabricated and untrue dilemma was "repulsive" for all serious and well-meaning Christians - Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and others. The statement called on the media in both countries "not to produce unnecessary, false images and impressions". The Belgrade-based tabloid Press recently ran a story claiming that "secret negotiations have been ongoing for a period of time" between the SPC and the Catholic Church "in order to create conditions" for the pope's visit. The article went on to say that to this end, "last week, two esteemed Croatian bishops and proven masters of secret diplomacy" met with SPC Patriarch Irinej. Pope Benedict (Beta, file) B92 Tanjug

SPC denies "negotiations" to allow for pope's visit

"His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has never officially or unofficially, directly or indirectly, hinted or sent a message or a signal to the SPC that he wants to visit Serbia," the SPC release reads.

It came after speculation that the pope might receive an invitation from the SPC to visit Serbia for the jubilee of the Edict of Milan - which will honor Rome's first Christian Emperor, Constantine the Great, born in what is today the Serbian town of Niš.

"The topic of the pope's visit to Serbia does not exists for the SPC, and under such circumstances it cannot be discussed within the canonical jurisdictions of the Church," said the statement signed by Bishop Irinej of Bačka.

It added that "it is not opposition by certain bishops, but rather a unanimous decision of the SPC Holy Synod for the jubilee celebration of the Edict of Milan next year to bring together heads of Orthodox churches and high delegations, rather than dignitaries of foreign, heterodox, Christian churches, the Roman Catholic Church included."

Patriarch Irinej underlined that the manner in which the media in Serbia and some in Croatia treat this fabricated and untrue dilemma was "repulsive" for all serious and well-meaning Christians - Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and others.

The statement called on the media in both countries "not to produce unnecessary, false images and impressions".

The Belgrade-based tabloid Press recently ran a story claiming that "secret negotiations have been ongoing for a period of time" between the SPC and the Catholic Church "in order to create conditions" for the pope's visit. The article went on to say that to this end, "last week, two esteemed Croatian bishops and proven masters of secret diplomacy" met with SPC Patriarch Irinej.