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Published by Zenit.org,
September 1, 2004
Return of Image of
Kazan Marked Progress in Relations With Orthodox
Church
Interview with Cardinal Walter Kasper
MOSCOW,
SEPT. 1, 2004 (Zenit.org).-
Here is the interview of Cardinal Walter Kasper,
president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity, given to Dr. Victor Khroul,
editor-in-chief of the Russian Catholic weekly "Svet
Evangelia," before his departure for Rome on
August 30.
Q: Your Eminence, you were in Russia six months
ago, in February 2004. Do you perceive a
difference in the atmosphere between the previous
visit and the current one? Is there any progress
in the relations between the Russian Orthodox and
Catholic Churches?
Cardinal Kasper: My visit in February was a
breakthrough: there was some hesitation on both
sides, doubts regarding honesty, which were
difficult to overcome. Since February, I think, we
have taken a big step forward. The atmosphere now
is much warmer and more cordial.
The main reason for this is also that the Holy
Father himself supports the visit; he wanted it,
and all the time he is spiritually with us. So,
we do have a progress. The climate is more open
for further steps to be taken; it is very
important for the future of our Churches, the
future of Europe and for the world.
Q: Are there any evident signs of such a progress?
What are your personal feelings?
Cardinal Kasper: The meeting with His Holiness
Patriarch Alexy II was quite different from the
very cold one I had with him in February. Now we
agreed. His Holiness himself proposed that our two
delegations have more meetings. He said: "When
there are problems, we must resolve them
immediately, otherwise they grow."
Q: Did he say this?
Cardinal Kasper: Yes, he did. This time he was
very interested in having greater efforts made in
solving problems. In February we decided to have a
commission at the local level in order to solve
concrete problems, and in May this commission had
its first session in Moscow.
Q: Does this mean that the commission will work
more intensively after your second meeting with
the Patriarch?
Cardinal Kasper: Yes, the next meeting of the
commission will be in September. And, within this
commission, the Patriarch suggested that
discussions be held on the possibility of having
regular meetings at the higher level.
Q: At the level of the Patriarch and Pope, or at
the level of bishops?
Cardinal Kasper: At the level of cardinals,
metropolitan bishops (of the Orthodox Church) and
bishops.
Q: Will local Catholic bishops in Russia be
included as well in the negotiation process?
Cardinal Kasper: Of course, the local bishops and
the archbishop of Moscow will be included.
I also suggested that if they were in agreement we
could invite the delegation of the Moscow
patriarchate to come to Rome and be in contact
with us and our dicasteries.
So, we discussed a number of things, but did not
take any decisions this time, as this was not
included on our agenda.
Q: Has the date of the meeting of the joint
commission been established?
Cardinal Kasper: Yes, it is scheduled for the end
of September and will be announced later.
Q: What are the prospects for future relations
between the Churches?
Cardinal Kasper: We will go ahead, and my hope is
that Our Lady will help us. She is the main person
in this meeting, not us. She knows how to make
things work. She will help us attain the best
future of our Churches.
However, it is also important to come together at
our level. And I think this is the main difference
between the meeting in February and the one in
August. The Icon of Our Lady of Kazan touches
people's hearts, that of normal people. So, this
meeting was not just diplomatic. I hope it will
greatly change the situation.
Q: Thank you, your eminence, for the Mass you
celebrated in the Moscow cathedral. However, some
of local Catholics told me after the Mass that
they were somewhat disappointed that the icon had
not been brought to the Cathedral for prayer on
Friday night. They wanted very much to see the
icon and pray to Our Lady of Kazan.
Cardinal Kasper: Yes, of course, I understand
these reservations and regrets. But the icon was
given to me to bring directly to the patriarch; we
could not do otherwise. We could have done so, but
decided not to, as a sign of respect for the
Russian Orthodox Church.
I understand the regrets of our Catholic faithful,
I would have been happy to comply, but the
schedule was fixed by the Holy Father, the
patriarch and the nuncio in Moscow.
Q: Local Catholics also complained that Catholics
in Rome had an opportunity to see the icon of Our
Lady of Kazan and pray for a whole day in St.
Peters Basilica, but Moscow Catholics were not
given such an opportunity; some had hard feelings.
Cardinal Kasper: I understand this, of course, but
you must also understand that we have to respect
the sensitivity of the other side. It also means
sacrifice from Russian Catholics, it is true. I
ask Catholic believers in Russia to sacrifice, to
understand, that there is no forgiveness, no
reconciliation without sacrifice. This is the life
of the Church.
Q: During your February visit, the Moscow Orthodox
seminary and academy asked you for support in the
renovation of the library and implementation of
some other projects. Has this support been given
to our Orthodox brothers?
Cardinal Kasper: This aid has been promised by "Renovabis,"
and a delegation from this German organization
will come to Russia next week. I also promised to
send books from Rome. They have already arrived to
Moscow. We will also help the seminary and academy
with electronic equipment.
I hope that the exchange of professors and
students will also be fruitful for both sides.
Salesians and Augustinians in Rome are ready to
come here to teach; it is only a question of dates
and terms. After my February visit four Orthodox
students came to Rome to study.
So, we are already seeing the first fruits of our
talks. And we must not underestimate the climate,
the atmosphere of our relations: there was
distrust from the beginning, now it is much better.
Our patience is needed to make it warmer and more
cordial.
Q: Some time ago it was announced in the Vatican,
that Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, official of the
Vatican State Secretariate, has been named the
Secretary of the Permanent Interdicasterial
Commission for the Church in East Europe. Does it
mean that this commission will work more
intensively, especially in collaboration with the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity?
Cardinal Kasper: We are friends with Archbishop
Lajolo. Formerly, he was nuncio in Germany. He is
a very intelligent, open person, and I hope we
will collaborate very well.
Q: Have you already discussed some problems with
him?
Cardinal Kasper: We already had a very good
meeting. After our visit, I hope we will meet once
more to see what materialized and what can be done.
Q: Are attempts being made by your Pontifical
council and the commission to update the 12-year
old document on ecumenism, issued by the
commission now headed by Archbishop Lajolo?
Cardinal Kasper: To date, there has been no plan
for this. Such an attempt would create suspicions,
so care must be taken. We will try to find other
solutions.
Q: Your Eminence, did you understand the words of
the patriarch and Father Vsevolod Chaplin about
concrete and significant steps that the Moscow
patriarchate expects from the Vatican? These steps
should convince the Orthodox side of our immediate
intentions to improve relations. I have already
spoken to Father Chaplin about this, but his
answer was very general, with no specific details.
Do you understand their requests?
Cardinal Kasper: I understand that the commission
we established must discuss their complaints about
our so-called "proselytism." We asked for concrete
facts, and will investigate their veracity, and
will change if it is true. These are the only
concrete steps possible.
The other question was so-called "Uniatism." It is
a very difficult question, because we also have to
recognize the legitimate decisions of the
Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. But, in the
meantime, the Holy Father made a very clear
statement regarding this case, and for the Holy
Father it was not easy.
Q: Sometimes we hear demands to withdraw
missionary religious orders and congregations from
Russia, to close children's centers run by
Catholics. Are these demands acceptable for the
Holy See?
Cardinal Kasper: Up to now we have not received
such demands officially. If we are taking care of
the children of the streets we can not put them
back on the streets; it is impossible. The only
thing we can do is to confirm once more to the
Orthodox Church that we do not want to make people
Catholics by force. In every case a solution can
be found, which is acceptable to both sides. Take
fore for example in Moscow where Catholic sisters
take children to Orthodox churches every Sunday
and holiday, and invite Orthodox priests to
prepare children for the sacraments.
Q: Your Eminence, have you already fixed the date
of your next visit to Russia?
Cardinal Kasper: No, we have not. It will depend a
lot on the work of the joint Catholic-Orthodox
commission in Moscow.
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