VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul renewed his commitment to the goal of Christian unity yesterday as representatives of "the Orthodox Church boycotted his solemn Mass marking the' feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. "I feel committed to being an ardent promoter of this unity," the Pope told pilgrims after the Mass.
Orthodox churches have voiced sharp criticism at the European Ecumenical Conference in Graz, Austria, which ended yesterday, about Catholic missionary work in eastern Europe.