The ecumenical relationship between the world’s two largest Christian denominations has been driven a big step forward as the visiting Orthodox leaders to the Vatican told Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday that theological dialogue is ready to resume.

Several top churchmen were sent by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's 200 million Orthodox, to join Wednesday’s Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to mark the feast day of Saint Peter and Paul.

During the occasion, delegation leader Metropolitan John of Pergamon said that Orthodox churches had agreed to nominate two delegates to the international commission for theological dialogue between the two Churches, which would mean to restart the dialogue that had stalled for five years.

Pope Benedict XVI, who has inherited the enthusiasm of his predecessor, the late John Paul II, for overcoming the differences with the Orthodox Church, responded positively to the Orthodox’s reconciliatory initiative.

"We feel the need to unite forces and not spare energies so that the official theological dialogue, begun in 1980 between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches together, resume with renewed vigor," Benedict said.

The Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church split in 1054. More recently, relations have become tense by Orthodox charges of aggressive Catholic missionary work in Eastern Europe, and by property disputes. However, the Vatican has repeated denied the charges.

Benedict said on Wednesday the "process of theological and historic clarification ... has already borne appreciable fruit." The centuries-long rift between the two Churches is looking forward to be healed.