BARI, Italy (ICN): Pope Benedict XVI said he wants to heal the rift with the Orthodox Church during his papacy.
He was speaking to hundreds of thousands of people attending a Mass on May 29 in the southern Italian city of Bari during his first pilgrimage away from the Vatican since he was elected in April.
After arriving by helicopter the Pope waved to the crowds from his popemobile as he was taken to an area near the sea where he presided over the open-air Mass.
The Mass closed a week-long Catholic congress on the Eucharist.
Bari is often referred to as a bridge between East and West.
Pope Benedict has said from the start of his papacy that he wants to further dialogue among Christians. He repeated his aim in Bari, which has close ties to the Orthodox Church.
