Posted on 01/09/2014 6:05:31 AM PST by marshmallow
The embrace between Rome and Constantinople is renewed. But a document from the patriarchate of Moscow freezes the discussion between Catholics and Orthodox on the powers of the pope over the universal Church
ROME, January 8, 2014 – Exactly half a century since the embrace in Jerusalem between Paul VI and the patriarch of Constantinople, Athenagoras, Pope Francis has announced that he too will go to the Holy Land, next May 24-26, to repeat that ecumenical gesture with the successor of Athenagoras, Bartholomew.
On Saturday, January 4, the eve of the anniversary, “L'Osservatore Romano" republished the complete text of the conversation between Paul VI and Athenagoras, intended to remain confidential but recorded by Italian television, which “through a glitch” kept the microphones open.
Paul VI did not remain silent about the crucial point that divides Rome from the East: “the constitution of the Church” and the role of the pope in it.
He promised Athenagoras:
"I will tell you that which I believe to be exact, derived from the Gospel, from the will of God and from the authentic tradition. I will express it. And in it there will be points that do not coincide with your thought about the constitution of the Church. . . ."
“I will do the same,” Athenagoras said.
And Paul VI: "We will discuss, we will seek to find the truth. . . No question of prestige, of primacy, that may not be that established by Christ. Absolutely nothing that has to do with honors, with privileges. Let us see what Christ is asking of us and each take his position; but without any human ambition to prevail, to have glory, advantages. But to serve.”
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Since that January 5 of 1964 until today, the ecumenical dialogue between Rome and the Churches of the East.......
(Excerpt) Read more at chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it ...
Have the meet-up anyways.
But is not the Patriarch of Constantinople the head of all the Orthodox churches to begin with?
Orthodox do not consider The Ecumenical Patriarch as Pope, as is understood in the West.
From the Orthodox POV, Rome has a lot of “wlking back” to do for real union to become reality.
You mean walking back?
This is just me, but the first thing the churches should look at working on, is to get a “common date” for Easter. That Easter this year is being obseved by all the churches is nothing short then a miracle of the calendars.
Is this an actual effort by Rome to walk back their insistence that all Christendom must go through Rome? Or is this an effort under the idea that status quo is fine, and that everyone should maintain their separate belief and just cooperate on the work of Christ?
Those of the same questions I have also.
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