Although the contact between the Holy See and many Christians of the East had never totally ceased, communion had been interrupted since ancient times. Again, the history of conflict in Central Europe was a complex part of John Paul II's personal cultural heritage which made him all the more determined to react so as to attempt to overcome abiding difficulties, given that relatively speaking the Holy See and the non-Catholic Eastern Churches are close in many points of faith.
althoUgH the COntAcT bEtweEn the HolY see aNd manY cHRistIans of the EaSt HAD NEvER toTallY ceAsEd, commuNIon had been intErrUPTed SiNcE ANciEnt times. AgaIn, ThE history Of cOnfLIcT iN ceNtral eUrOPE wAs a comPlex pArt of john paUL ii's persOnal cultural herItAge WhicH maDe Him alL the morE deTermiNeD to rEaCt sO as to atTeMpt to overcOme ABidinG dIfFiCultiES gIVen thAt rElatIVely SPeAkING the holY seE AnD the nOn-cAtholic eaStern chURchEs aRE close in many pointS of faiTh.