Orthodox–Catholic relations

Romanian Orthodox parish in Heidelberg to acquire its first church

The Romanian Orthodox community in Heidelberg, Germany, will soon have a church of its own after the parish council of the local Roman Catholic community voted on Tuesday to transfer St Joseph’s Church in Eppelheim to the Romanian Orthodox Parish of the Holy Trinity. Fr Marius-Adrian Călin, one of the parish’s priests, described the decision…

Jul 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Benedictine theologians visit Romanian Patriarchate: St Dumitru Stăniloae among pilgrimage readings

A group of students and professors from Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’Anselmo was received on Thursday by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. The Benedictine theologians said that, during their pilgrimage in Romania, they plan to study the works of Saint Dumitru Stăniloae, one of the most influential Orthodox theologians…

May 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Metropolitan Serafim attends installation of new Vienna Catholic archbishop

His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, attended the enthronement ceremony of the new Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Vienna, Josef Grünwidl, on Saturday. The installation took place at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the Austrian capital, in the presence of around 3,000 people. The ordination and installation…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Serafim welcomes appointment of Vienna’s new Catholic Archbishop

His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of Germany, Central and Northern Europe has welcomed the appointment of Josef Grünwidl as the new Roman Catholic Archbishop and Metropolitan of Vienna. “With great fraternal joy, I learned of Your Eminence’s appointment as Archbishop of Vienna and of the fact that, after deep reflection, you responded with a wholehearted ‘yes’…

Oct 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam and Prior Sabino Chialà reaffirm Orthodox–Catholic ties in Bucharest

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești,  Secretary of the Holy Synod, received Brother Sabino Chialà, Prior of the Roman Catholic Monastery of Bose (Italy), in an audience at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. During their discussions, Bishop Varlaam emphasized the long-standing cooperation between the Romanian Patriarchate and the…

May 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel meets Cardinal Ghirlanda to discuss Orthodox–Catholic cooperation

On Tuesday, the Patriarch of Romania received His Eminence Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ, a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church from Italy, at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. During the meeting, various aspects of the positive cooperation between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church—both in Romania and Italy—were discussed. Romanians in Italy In…

May 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Bishop in Italy congratulates Pope Leo XIV, wishes fruitful apostolate

The Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Italy has sent a message of congratulations to the newly elected Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV, wishing him a fruitful apostolic ministry. “We pray that you may receive from God the strength of a lion and the courage of your predecessors,” said Bishop Siluan to the new Pope, referring…

May 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu