Posted on 06/11/2023 6:18:12 PM PDT by marshmallow
Patriarch Bartholomew sent a warm letter to Pope Francis.
On June 8, 2023, Patriarch Bartholomew sent a letter of support to Pope Francis, who had undergone an intestinal surgery the day before, Romfea reports.
The head of the Phanar assured the pope of his ardent prayers and noted that modern Christians should not seek worldly success, but demonstrate fidelity to the Gospel. Patriarch Bartholomew is sure that Catholics and Orthodox should move towards complete unity.
“I am sure that as they walk this path together, Catholics and Orthodox will gain a deeper understanding of the ties that already bind them in faith, hope and charity, in order to be encouraged to persevere along this path leading to full and visible unity,” wrote the Patriarch of Constantinople.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Patriarch Bartholomew made a visit to Italy, which was called "Two brothers, one faith."
A move to unity and reconciliation among Eastern Byzantium and other Eastern Churches with Catholics would be a world history moment.
I would dearly love to see holy sites in Jerusalem under one unified Christian Church. Its one of the worlds greatest sites and the scene of a great scandal even today.
I would even be alright with a “Very careful” rebuilding of the Holy Sepulcher in a totally Byzantine style if it could only be maintained as one site for all Christians to make pilgrimage too.
On the one hand, as Christians we must continually work for and pray for unity.
On the other hand, as a Catholic, I fully understand why the Orthodox are resistant to a reunion. The papacy, as it’s existed for the last 170 years or so, claims more power than is historically justifiable. We’d need to dial it back to what existed in the first millennium in which the Bishop of Rome had the final word on doctrinal disputes but didn’t claim exclusive jurisdiction over liturgical forms and episcopal appointments.
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