From Alan McElwain VATICAN CI'T'Y POPE PAUL — and the Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity — would naturally he very happy if the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Ramsey, visited the Pope, but the Vatican knows of no plans yet made for a meeting, a Curia official said this week.
He was commenting on a London report that Dr. Ramsey had said that the time was ripe for a meeting between himself and Pope Paul.
The Vatican official added that it had been taken for granted that if Pope John had lived longer. Dr. Ramsey would undoubtedly have emulated the example of his predecessor, i .ord Fisher, and called upon him.
Other Vatican circles feel that Dr. Ramsey might consider it advisable to wait until after the third session of the Ecumenical Council, opening on September 14, before calling on Pope Paul. This third session is regarded as the "vital" one of the series and out of it could emerge much that Dr. Ramsey and Pope Paul could discuss advantageously.
Cardinal Bea
I hear that there have been discussions in the Vatican on whether Pope Paul would return visits paid to him by heads of other Churches.
It is now generally accepted that in future he will ask Cardinal Elea to return calls in his name; if Dr. Ramsey came to Rome to see the Pope. for example, Cardinal Bea would go to England later to see him on the Pope's behalf.
As head of the Vatican Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity. through which so many historic visits by nonCatholic Church leaders have been arranged, Cardinal Bea is considered the most appropriate prelate to act on the Pope's behalf.