WCC Congratulates New Head of Romanian Orthodox Church

"Most sincere congratulations" were expressed to the newly elected head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel, by World Council of Churches General Secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia.

"Your life and ministry have been an inspiring witness to the unity of the church and we have every confidence that as the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, you will serve your church faithfully, share generously your gifts of wisdom, discernment and leadership within the wider Orthodox Church, as well as with your many partners in the ecumenical dialogue," Kobia wrote in a 14 September letter to Patriarch Daniel.

The Patriarch, former Metropolitan Daniel Ciobotea of Moldova and Bucovina, was elected by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on 12 September.

He was a lecturer at and deputy director of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey throughout the 1980s and a member of the WCC central and executive committees from 1991 to 1998.

Currently he is a member of the central committee and presidium of the Conference of European Churches.

Recalling one of Daniel's outstanding theological contributions - to help the ecumenical movement to "better understand that the source of our conciliar fellowship as churches is revealed through the love, unity and mystery of the Triune God" - Kobia expressed his confidence on the Patriarch's continued "inspiring theological discourse" and "comforting ecclesial support".