|
|
|
Published by
Zenit.org,
November 11, 2004
Vatican
Evaluation of Relations Between Catholic and
Orthodox Churches
"Substantial Progress" Made Based on
"Positive Spirit" |
 |
 |
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 11, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Here is
an evaluation of the present state of relations of
the Catholic Church with the other Christian
churches, given on Wednesday at a press conference
by Mons. Eleuterio Fortino, under-secretary of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
* * *
One of the most important elements of the decree "Unitatis
Redintegratio" (UR) -- still valid, 40 years after
its promulgation --, is that of relations with the
Orthodox Churches. The Council exhorted everyone,
"but especially those who intend to work in the
re-establishment of the desired full communion
between the Eastern Churches and the Catholic
Church" to give "adequate consideration to the
special condition of the birth and growth of the
Churches of the East and to the nature of the
existing relations between the latter and the See
of Rome before the separation" (UR, 14). Following
this indication, relations have been established,
in different times and ways, and the same
theological dialogue with all the Churches of the
East, with the Orthodox Churches and the ancient
Churches of the East, or those antecedent to the
Council of Chalcedon. The Holy Father made a
general evaluation in the encyclical "Ut Unum Sint"
(UUS). On the dialogue with the Orthodox Churches,
he wrote: "With a positive spirit, basing
ourselves on everything we have in common, the
Mixed Commission (of theological dialogue) has
been able to make substantial progress" (UUS, 59).
With reference to the dialogue carried out with
the Ancient Churches of the East, he affirmed: "In
regard to the traditional controversies on
Christology, the ecumenical contacts have made
possible essential clarification so as to allow us
to confess together the faith that is common to
us" (UUS, 63).
These relations still find inspiration and
orientation 40 years after the UR decree,
including in situations of new possibilities and
of unforeseen difficulties.
1. The theological dialogue with the Orthodox
Churches, after a positive beginning and with its
results included in the encyclical UUS, has, over
the last 15 years, met with serious difficulties
and, since the last plenary session (Baltimore,
Md., 2000) has not been able to hold other
meetings. In that session, the topic
"Ecclesiological and Canonical Implications of 'Uniatism'
"was discussed. It was not possible to agree to a
common document on the argument. However, the
session emphasized the need to continue the
dialogue and highlighted an important fact for
this theological dialogue. Both sides showed that
the birth of the Catholic Eastern Churches is
profoundly linked to the question of the primacy
of the Bishop of Rome in the Church. Therefore,
the question must be addressed as the main problem
in relations between Catholics and Orthodox.
2. In regard to the "Petrine Primacy," the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
organized an academic symposium in May of 2003,
with parallel reports of Catholics and Orthodox on
four topics: a) The biblical foundation of the
primacy, b) The primacy in the thought of the
Fathers of the Church, c) The role of the Bishop
of Rome in Ecumenical Councils, d) The recent
discussions on the primacy in relation to Vatican
Council I and on the primacy among Orthodox
theologians. It was not an official dialogue, but
an academic symposium with its own
characteristics. The search for full communion,
however, is enriched with all the contributions
(fraternal relations, research in theological
institutes, dialogue structure through mixed
commissions, prayer, etc.). The Minutes were
published.
3. In the last years, relations have intensified
with some Churches that, in the past, had shown
less interest in relations with the Catholic
Church. After the Holy Father's visit to Athens
(2001), the Church of Greece sent to Rome, for the
first time, a Synodal delegation (March 8-13,
2002). In response, the Catholic Church sent to
Athens (Feb. 10-14, 2003) a delegation, presided
over by Cardinal Kasper, and active cooperation
has been established in several areas. Relations
with the Church of Greece are also following other
avenues. I remember one: in 2003, the 8th
symposium on "Spirituality in the East and West
and Reciprocal Influences" was held in Joannina
(Greece), organized by the Theological Faculty of
the University of Thessalonica and the "Antonianum"
Athenaeum of Rome.
4. The Holy Father visited Bulgaria in 2002 (May
23-26). The Cardinal President of the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity traveled to
the country in October of the same year (Oct.
7-9). A year after the Pope's visit, a delegation
of the Holy Synod of Sofia visited Rome (May
22-27, 2003). On that occasion, the liturgical use
was inaugurated, on the part of the Orthodox
Community of Rome, of the Church of Saints Vincent
and Athanasius, near the Trevi Fountain. The
search for unity implies solidarity and exchange
of gifts.
5.The President of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity visited the Church of
Serbia (May 10-15, 2002). A delegation of the Holy
Synod of that Church and the Catholic Episcopal
Conference of the country now meet regularly.
6. After the Holy Father's visit to Rumania (May
7-8, 1999) and that of Patriarch Theoctist to Rome
(Oct. 7-13, 2002) -- significant events of
fraternal relations, despite the ongoing problems
in the country between Greek-Catholics and
Orthodox over the issue of places of worship --,
the President of the Pontifical Council was
simultaneously conferred a doctorate "honoris
causa" by four Theological Faculties of Cluj: the
Orthodox, Greek-Catholic, Latin Catholic, and
Protestant.
7. In recent years there has been tension between
the Patriarchate of Moscow and the Catholic
Church. The Russian Church reproached the Catholic
Church for what the former considered acts of
proselytism and new impetus to the practice of "Uniatism"
in Ukraine. There have been several initiatives to
clarify the matter. Cardinal Kasper's visit to
Moscow in 2004 was important (Feb. 17-23). As a
result, a joint working group has been established
between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox
Church, in the Russian Federation, for the
solution of practical problems existing between
the two Churches in this country. Since then, the
group has held two meetings, in May and September,
2004.
8. Cardinal Kasper visited the Orthodox Church in
Byelorussia (Dec. 15-18, 2002) and has initiated a
positive relationship with it.
9. With the Ancient Churches of the East (Coptic,
Ethiopian, Syriac, and Armenian), as a group,
stemming from Christological agreements and the
results of several bilateral dialogues, an
official theological dialogue was initiated in
2002. The first meeting of the Mixed Commission
took place in Cairo in January of 2004. The second
will be held in Rome in January 2005.
10. A Mixed Dialogue Commission has been
established with the Assyrian Church of the East.
The next imminent meeting will take place in
London from Nov. 18-24. Two main topics will be
studied: the theological tradition of the Ancient
Church of Mesopotamia and the ecclesiology of
communion, according to the Assyrian and Catholic
traditions.
11. Regular and frequent relations are maintained
with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. When
difficulties or misunderstandings arise, they are
resolved directly. The regular exchange of
delegations for the feast of St. Andrew at Fanar
and of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome, offers a
useful instrument for direct conversations.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I was in Rome
for this year's feast of Saints Peter and Paul. On
that occasion, he asked the Holy Father for the
relics of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory
Nazianzus, Patriarchs of Constantinople, which are
in St. Peter's Basilica. At the end of this month,
His Holiness Bartholomeos I will come to Rome to
receive from the Holy Father the gift of the
relics. It will be the occasion for a new meeting.
This intensification of contacts will contribute
to a new beginning of the theological dialogue.
The RU decree continues to give valid inspiration
and orientations.
[Translation by ZENIT]
|
