Orthodox Christian Leaders Mourn Loss of John Paul II

Published by The National Herald, April 10, 2005

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, spiritual leader of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians, expressed "deep personal sorrow" over the death of Pope John Paul II, calling the Pope’s passing last week a loss for all of Christianity.

In a statement sent to Reuters last Saturday, April 2, the Ecumenical Patriarch praised the late Pope’s efforts to reunite the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity, bitterly split during an 11th Century schism.

In his statement, Bartholomew referred to the Pope as a man of vision, calling John Paul’s contribution to the fall of communism "crucial." The text of the Patriarch’s statement follows:

"His Holiness Pope John Paul II, having fulfilled the duty of life, which is common to all humans, has fallen asleep in the Lord. May God give rest to his soul in the place of the living, where there is no sorrow, grief or mourning. Pope John Paul II envisioned the restoration of the unity of the Christians, and he worked for its realization. Thus, and in order to mark his papacy, he visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate only a year after his election and, together with Patriarch Demetrios, declared the formation of the Joint Committee for the inception of the Theological Dialogue between Orthodox and Roman Catholics. He did not hesitate before pain and sacrifice in order to bring the message of the Gospel to the entire world, and to contribute to the establishment of peace. History will also recount his crucial contribution to the fall of atheistic communism. There are not many such brave men of vision as the departed Pope. During his passage through the Hierarchy, and especially through the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, he etched his traces on her, and on the history of all humanity, and he has left behind the indelible imprint of his strong personality. Many of his initiatives have been an inception of developments, which are still advancing today. He was a pioneer for many issues. For this reason, his death is a loss not only to his Church, but to all of Christianity, and to the international community in general, which desires peace and justice. We express our deep personal sorrow on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the resting of our beloved brother in Christ, and we share the mourning of the millions of our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters worldwide. May his memory be eternal, and may the Lord of life and death bring forth a most worthy successor among the many personalities adorning the hierarchy of the sister Church."

The Pope died on Saturday aged 84 after a long illness, ending a historic reign, which had made reconciliation between Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Christians a priority.
The Pope had worked closely with Bartholomew to heal wounds between the two Churches, which also stem from the Sacking of Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. Orthodox Christians blamed the Vatican for the 13th Century Latin Crusaders’ attacks on Constantinople, which weakened their capital and paved the way for the eventual Ottoman conquest in 1453.

Last November the Pope returned the bones of Saints Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom to the Patriarchate, 800 years after Crusaders stole them from Constantinople.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America also issued a statement on the Pope’s passing last Saturday, citing that the relationship between Orthodox and Catholics "improved significantly" under John Paul’s watch. The text of the Archdiocesan statement follows:

"Pope John Paul II, who began his papacy in October 1978, has guided the Roman Catholic Church through transforming years, remaining firm on traditional values while offering love, compassion and forgiveness. He touched many people with his gentle manner and his openness to people of other religions. During his tenure, the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church has improved significantly. In a most recent relevant event last November, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios (Patriarchal Exarch to, and Primate of, the Greek Orthodox Church in America) had the opportunity to visit with the Pope during a special occasion at the Vatican. This was a ceremony during which the Pope, responding to the request of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, returned the Holy Relics of Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Gregory the Theologian, two of the most prominent Fathers of the undivided Church. The Holy Relics now rest at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. As Orthodox Christians, we will always remember, among other instances, this expression of desire for reconciliation and unity as we pray for the repose of his soul."

John Paul also visited Greece four years ago and asked God to forgive Roman Catholics for 1,000 years of sins against the Orthodox. It was the first time in centuries that a pope had set foot on Greek soil.

His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, who presides over the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, which had long been at odds with the Vatican, also expressed his condolences to the Church of Rome last Sunday, April 3, over the death of the Pope, citing John Paul’s globetrotting activities:

"The Church of Greece expresses its deep condolences to the Holy See and to Roman Catholics all over the world. A great Pope, a great personality of Catholicism, who was justly described as a standard bearer of freedom and human rights, has passed away. With exceptional activity traversing the entire planet, John Paul II upheld the prestige of his Church, despite many attacks, with determination and respect for Roman Catholic traditions."

The Church of Greece had long been critical of John Paul II, whom it accused of hostility toward its "Serbian Orthodox brothers."

But frosty relations with the Vatican began to thaw after John Paul’s historic visit to Athens in May 2001 during which the late Pontiff apologized for the Vatican’s past wrongdoings toward Orthodox Christians. This past October, however, the Church of Greece rejected Christodoulos’ proposed return visit to the Vatican.

Other Orthodox leaders also paid homage to the Pope John Paul II as a historic figure, but noted the enduring tensions with the Vatican, despite the late Pontiff’s fervent attempts at reconciliation.

Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow expressed grief at the Pope’s death last Saturday and voiced his wish that the Pontiff’s memory would help overcome differences with the Holy See, saying he hoped "the coming of a new era in the life of the Roman Catholic Church will help restore relations of mutual respect and brotherly Christian love between our churches" in a letter to the Vatican.

John Paul had difficult relations with Alexy, who accused the Catholic Church of proselytizing in Russia and the former Soviet republics. Alexy also complained about Ukrainian churches the Vatican had reclaimed after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, houses of worship given to the Orthodox Church by Stalin in 1946. This ultimately prevented John Paul from giving a trademark kiss to Russian soil. The Pope had recently tried to visit Russia, hoping to deliver the icon, Our Lady of Kazan, which was returned to the Orthodox Church last August. But Alexy opposed the Papal visit.

Meanwhile the Serbian Orthodox Church, which also had strained relations with the Vatican and opposed a papal visit, remained silent. No statement had been issued from the Serbian Patriarchate after the announcement of the Pope’s death late Saturday.

Bartholomew and Christodoulos were expected to attend the Pope’s funeral along with other world leaders on Friday, April 8. At press time, the list of visitors included President George W. Bush, former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush; Hellenic Republic President Carolos Papoulias; British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles, who has postponed his wedding in order to attend; French President Jacques Chirac; German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and President Horst Koehler; Russian Premier Mikhail Fradkov European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso and EU Duty President Jean Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg; and other European and Latin American heads of state, as well as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

The above incorporates information from reports posted by Reuters, Agence France Presse, the Athens News Agency and ANSA English Media Service on April 3-4.



Volume 7 Number 15 - Tuesday, April 12th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY