WHEN Pope Francis was elected in March 2013 following the resignation of Benedict XVI, the then Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Albert Bogle, extended the Kirk's best wishes, adding: "As this new chapter commences in the history of the world church we look forward with joyful anticipation to the growing understanding that continues to be evident among all Christians of good will."
That understanding will be further enhanced later this month when the current Moderator, the Rt Rev John Chalmers, travels to the Vatican for a private audience, the first in Rome between a Moderator and a Pope since 2001.
Hopes are rightly high. Pope Francis is noted for his commitment to dialogue as a means of building bridges between people of all backgrounds and faiths, and Archbishop Leo Cushley has expressed the wish that this visit might grow into an annual event, as is the case with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Mr Chalmers, for his part, contends that attitudes have changed as ministers and priests have come to see in each other a shared humanity - and a shared faith.
Truly, it is good to talk. We wish Mr Chalmers godspeed on his forthcoming journey.
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