[DesertRhino]

What does this mean? Is this the Vatican simply saying “if you Orthodox accept the Roman Papacy as the authority, then we will have unity”? Or is it something different like a fundamental change in their position that Rome has primacy?

[kearnyirish2]

I believe our Eastern Catholic Churches nominate their heads, which are approved by the Pope. If the Orthodox simply want to function as Protestants (with no central authority), I don’t see why reunification is even being discussed.

[Genoa]

I'm no expert, but aren't the Orthodox willing to accept Roman primacy (primus inter pares) as long as it doesn't amount to supremacy? This would be the grounds of any future rapprochement.

[Cronos]

it doesn’t actually saw much. As a Catholic I would want to see the Pope clarifying primacy as the Orthodox see it — first among equals, but not “boss man” — and I believe that Pope John Paul II, Benedict and now Francis have shown by their actions with the Eastern Catholic patriarchs that this is what they believe. We just need to put this in writing

[Biggirl]

There are Eastern Rite Catholic Churches.