This is an interesting post...Benedict XVI certainly has a an ecumenical zeal that is truly admirable.
I wonder about something.
I work for a Protestant organization that has relationships with other organizations that could be called "Partial Communion" I wonder if a degree of "Partial Commnunion" could be achieved in the short term, such as the Orthodox Churches adopting a view towards the Sacraments similar to the view the Vatican holds towards Orthodox Sacraments.
Which would basically (as I understand it) recognize them as valid should a need arise that would keep a Communicant from fulfilling his obligations within his own rite.
Such as a Catholic traveling in Russia or Greece might need to go to an Orthodox Church because no Catholic Church was available and vise versa.
For us, however, communion is a sign of unity of belief, so we would not allow those outside the church to participate knowingly.