Pope welcomes Orthodox leader at Vatican in spirit of ecumenism (Pope weakens petrine primacy)

asianews.it ^ | 29 June, 2004 | AsiaNews

[Destro]

29 June, 2004

VATICAN

Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in the spirit of ecumenism

In the afternoon the Pope will confer the pallium on 44 metropolitan bishops (6 from Asia)

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – The presence in Rome of Bartholomew I, Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, has given the Pope the opportunity to affirm that the “petrine primacy” — a very controversial issue in ecumenical dialogue — simply means presiding over the “universal mission of the Church which is to bring to the world the Gospel of Christ, Redeemer of man and history.” In essence, this is what the Pope had in mind when he spoke ahead of the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square. For many Protestants and Orthodox the petrine primacy is an undue interference in the internal affairs of other Christian communities. But for Catholics the primacy (and the tie to Rome) represents an instrument of freedom for the Church and constitutes a support in her mission.

The Pope also said that today, during the celebration of the mass, he will confer the pallium (a white woollen circular band with embroidered crosses) to 44 metropolitan bishops who were appointed archbishop within the past year.

The pallium is the symbol of unity with the See of Peter. Among the 44 archbishops, six are from Asia: Ramon C. Arguelles of Lipa (Philippines); Joseph Augustine Charanakunnel of Raipur (India); Valerian Okeke of Onitsha (Japan); Gaudencio Borbon Rosales of Manila (Philippines); Joseph Mitsuaki Takami, PSS, of Nagasaki (Japan); Joseph Cheng Tsai-Fa of Taipei (Taiwan).

Five other prelates — who, for varying reasons, could not be in Rome for the feast — will receive the pallium from the papal delegate in their respective countries. They are: Anthony Anandarayar of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (India); Maria Callist Soosa Pakiam of Trivandrum (India); Evarist Pinto of Karachi (Pakistan); Nicolaus Adi Septura, MSC, of Merauke (Indonesia); Aloysius Sudarso, SSI, of Palembang (Indonesia).

Here are the words of the Pope as he introduces the Marian prayer:

“The Church is celebrating the feast of the Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul: the Galilean fisherman who first professes the faith in Christ and the teacher and doctor who proclaimed salvation to the people (See Prefazio). By the will of Divine Providence, both reached Rome and there they were martyred over the next few years. Since then the city, capital of a great Empire, was fated to a different kind of glory. It was called to be the Apostolic See that presides over the universal mission of the Church which is to bring to the world the Gospel of Christ, Redeemer of man and history.

This year, we can rejoice for the presence of His Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, whom I have just welcomed and greeted. The welcome visit has a special meaning: 40 years ago, in January 1964 to be exact, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I met in Jerusalem where they exchanged a brotherly embrace. This embrace has become the symbol of the hoped for reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches as well as the prophecy of hope illuminating the path towards full unity among Christians.

I have invited Patriarch Bartholomew I to take part in the Holy Mass which I shall preside this afternoon at 6 PM in St. Peter’s Square. Together, we shall give the homily and together we shall make the same profession of faith.

During the same ceremony, I shall have the joy of conferring the “pallium” on the Metropolitan Archbishops appointed this year. It is a traditional sign of the union between the See of Rome and local Churches and is normally associated with the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

To the two eminent Patron Saints I entrust the beloved Diocese of Rome and the people of the capital city.

Let us appeal to them for intercession as well as that of the Holy Mother, Salus populi romani, and let us pray so that each man and each woman receive the message of love for which Sts. Peter and Paul were martyred.”

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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apeurope_story.asp?category=1103&slug=Vatican%20Patriarch

Tuesday, June 29, 2004 · Last updated 7:10 a.m. PT

Pope welcomes Orthodox leader at Vatican

By VICTOR L. SIMPSON
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

Pope John Paul talks with Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I during a private audience at the Vatican, Tuesday, June 29, 2004. The Pontiff welcomed with "joy'' the visit of the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians, expressing hope it will help mend the historic rupture between the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity. (AP Photo/Patrick Hertzog, Pool)

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II welcomed the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians on Tuesday, expressing hope the visit would help mend a historic rupture between the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity.

"We are praying that the Lord of history purifies our memories of every prejudice and resentment and allows us to freely proceed on the road of unity," John Paul said.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople met privately with John Paul hours before joining him for a late afternoon Mass in St. Peter's Square marking the feast day of St. Peter and St. Paul.

The pope has often appealed for rapprochement, but new strains have developed in recent years over what some Orthodox see as attempts by the Vatican to expand its reach in traditionally Orthodox parts of the former Soviet Union.

John Paul spoke of the visit in remarks at noon from his apartment window, as thousands of tourists and pilgrims gathered in the vast square below. The pope noted the meeting came 40 years after two of their predecessors - Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagorus - met for a historic embrace in Jerusalem. Eastern Orthodoxy had long been isolated from the Western Church.

"That embrace has become a symbol of the hoped-for reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches, as well as a symbol of hope in the path toward full communion among all Christians," John Paul said.

The Churches split in the 11th century in disputes over the growing power of the papacy.

In his remarks welcoming the patriarch, John Paul recalled "important moments of contact" over the last 40 years - Bartholomew joined the pope at the Vatican in 1995 - as well as the "painful episodes of history" that have darkened their relations.

"In particular, we cannot forget what happened in the month of April 1204," the pope said, referring to the sacking of Constantinople by Crusaders that contributed to the collapse of the Byzantine Empire about three centuries later.

"How can't we not share, at a distance of eight centuries, the anger and the pain," the pope said.

The pope has expressed his remorse before, issuing a sweeping apology during a 2001 visit to Athens for the sins by Roman Catholics against Orthodox Christians, including the sacking of Constantinople.

The patriarch is called the "first among equals" of the five Eastern Church leaders.

[Destro]

The Pope just changed the meaning of the "petrine primacy".

[Pyro7480]

the “petrine primacy” — a very controversial issue in ecumenical dialogue — simply means presiding over the “universal mission of the Church which is to bring to the world the Gospel of Christ, Redeemer of man and history.”

Catholic ping. Let's see if anyone can track the full document of this. Is this contrary to Vatican I?

[ninenot]

Really? He did? Perhaps you can demonstrate for us, exactly what words he used to LIMIT the primacy in his greeting.

[katnip]

I have invited Patriarch Bartholomew I to take part in the Holy Mass which I shall preside this afternoon at 6 PM in St. Peter’s Square. Together, we shall give the homily and together we shall make the same profession of faith.

With or without the Filioque, this will be interesting...

[Destro]

the Pope said that the “petrine primacy” — simply means presiding over the “universal mission of the Church which is to bring to the world the Gospel of Christ, Redeemer of man and history.”

Reads like a change in meaning to me.

[Tantumergo]

"With or without the Filioque, this will be interesting..."

There will be no Filioque - Rome has never insisted that the Eastern Catholic Churches adopt the Filioque, so it is hardly likely that they would ask Patriarch Bartholomew to recite it.

[Destro]

Contrast to the Catholic Encyclopedia's meaning of "petrine primacy":

He attributed an effective primacy to the pope as the successor of Peter.

[katnip]

So would the pope be dropping it also?

[siunevada]

Is this contrary to Vatican I?

5. The Constitution Pastor aeternus of the First Vatican Council indicated the purpose of the Primacy in its Prologue and then dedicated the body of the text to explaining the content or scope of its power. The Second Vatican Council, in turn, reaffirmed and completed the teaching of Vatican I, addressing primarily the theme of its purpose, with particular attention to the mystery of the Church as Corpus Ecclesiarum. This consideration allowed for a clearer exposition of how the primatial office of the Bishop of Rome and the office of the other Bishops are not in opposition but in fundamental and essential harmony.

Pastor aeternus. Have a go at it and see what there is to see.

[Destro]

More like the Orthodox will not mingle with the Catholics as long as the Catholics use the Filioque.

[Pyro7480]

St. Irenaeus on the Church of Rome (St. Irenaeus' feast day in the Western Church was yesterday)

"But since it would be too long to enumerate in such a volume as this the succession of all the churches, we shall confound all those who, in whatever manner, whether through self-satisfaction or vainglory, or through blindness and wicked opinion, assemble other than where it is proper, by pointing out here the successions of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient church known to all, founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul, that church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. With that church, because of its superior origin, all the churches must agree, that is, all the faithful in the whole world, and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the apostolic tradition" (Against Heresies 3:3:2 [A.D. 189]).

[Destro]

Yea, so? The Orthodox have never denied the place of the Pope as Chariman of the Board" - but there is a board - it is not a sole propriortiship. The Orthodox have always affirmed that the Bishop of Rome was "first among equals" when the Pope was orthodox. As long as the pope was Orthodox the Church was one - it was the Frankish Latins that took the Western church into heresy and schisim by creating new dogma on its own and denying the ecumenical council's primacy in changing doctrine and dogma. St. Irenaeus was right in his position on the Church of Rome - as long as it was orthodox. St. Irenaeus would not recognize the Latin Rite (or as I call it the Frankish Latin Rite) as orthodox.

[NYer]

Watching this "live" via EWTN's web site.

[bobjam]

The Council of Nicea affirmed that a bishop is the supreme ecclesiastical authority within his diocese. Unless the diocesan bishop is a heretic or apostate (as is the case of the Anglican Bishop of Pennsylvania), no other bishop may function in his diocese without his permission. Furthermore, it is the diocesan bishop's responsibility to root out heresey and maintain liturgical, doctrinal and moral order in his see. In the event a heresy or other problem becomes too widespread for two or three diocesan bishops to eliminate, a council of bishops is convened to deal with the problem. The bishops as a group address the situation and implement a solution. This occurred several times in the ancient and early medieval church. The concept that one bishop shall exercise any final say over all others, regardless of the advice of the others, is completely foreign to Eastern Orthodox and Anglican ecclesiology. No bishop can articulate new doctrine because there is no new doctrine to articulate (what more do we need than the Faith of the Apostles?). Hence, the Petrine Primacy, as the First Vatical Council described it, is very difficult for Eastern Orthodox and orthodox Anglicans. Because there is no new doctrine to announce, and because it is the job of all bishops to eradicate heresy and sin, there is no need for "papal infallibility".

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

The presence in Rome of Bartholomew I, Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, has given the Pope the opportunity to affirm that the “petrine primacy” — a very controversial issue in ecumenical dialogue — simply means presiding over the “universal mission of the Church which is to bring to the world the Gospel of Christ, Redeemer of man and history.”

**lightheaded and breathing into a paper bag as I type**

This can't be happening. He is giving away the store.

[NYer]

They are reciting the Nicene Creed, in the "original" text. ???

[NYer]

Prayers of the faithful now being read in different languages.

[Salvation]

**Reads like a change in meaning to me.**

I don't thnk so.

[Tantumergo]

"So would the pope be dropping it also?"

He won't be "dropping" anything - they'll just use the Creed of the Council of Constantinople, so it won't be in there to "drop" in the first place.

[Tantumergo]

"This can't be happening. He is giving away the store."

Didn't you read about the latest re-translation of St. John's Gospel?:

"I am the Way, the Unity and the Life."