The Romanian Patriarchate has organized yesterday, May 8, 2009, at the Patriarchate's Palace, the event titled 'Meeting in the Light of Resurrection,' dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the visit in Romania of Pope John Paul II. The event debuted with the photo exhibition 'Joy of the Meeting,' which includes images with the most important moments of the visit.

A conference titled 'Christian Faith and European Culture Today. Common Heritage, Current Challenges and Cooperation Perspectives' followed. The first visit of a Pope of Rome in Romania was also the first visit of a Pope in a country with an Orthodox Christian majority, thus opening the path for subsequent meetings in other countries of Orthodox tradition, underlined in his address, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The event was attended by His Excellency Traian Băsescu, President of Romania, His Excellency Archbishop Dominique François Joseph Mamberti, the delegate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, of the Roman Catholic Church in Romania, representatives of central and local authorities, past dignitaries, personalities of the academic, cultural life and a large number of invitees.

The conference debuted with the presentation of a documentary made by TRINITAS TV, the television station of the Romanian Patriarchate, in collaboration with the Romanian State Television, dedicated to the visit of Pope John Paul II in Romania. His Excellency Archbishop Dominique François Joseph Mamberti, presented the message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Next, the President of Romania gave an address, followed by Most Rev. Ioan Robu, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Bucharest of the Roman Catholic Church. His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, concluded the official messages, presenting his address titled 'Gratefulness and Hope.' Other hierarchs and personalities followed with evocation speeches.

After the conference, a memorial plaque was uncovered in the Conventus Hall of the Patriarchate's Palace, the place where the meeting between Pope John Paul II and the members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church took place.