Geneva, 22 January 2010

Your Eminence,

I have received with extraordinary joy the news that Your Eminence has been elected, by the Grace and Guidance of God Almighty, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade - Karlovac and Serbian Patriarch.

It is indeed an honour for me, in my new capacity as the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), to congratulate Your Eminence and the Holy Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church on this historic occasion.

On behalf of the entire fellowship of the WCC member churches, in their deep commitment to make our unity in Christ visible, please accept, Your Eminence, our warmest congratulations and assurance of prayer that God will continue to bless the Serbian Orthodox Church through your leadership.

I am certain that under Your Eminence's Patriarchal mission, the Serbian Orthodox Church will continue to strengthen the faithful contribution to the life and work of the World Council of Churches.

Yours respectfully in Christ,

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General secretary
World Council of Churches