Pope Benedict XVI underlined the importance of ecumenical work, yet
cautioned that ecumenism cannot be seen as a political effort, in a
November 18 address to members of the Pontifical Council for Christian
Unity.
The Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, founded by Pope John XXIII
in 1960, is marking its 50th anniversary.
Anglican Archbishop Rowan
Williams of Canterbury, and Orthodox Metropolitan John Zizioulas of
Pergamon, a top ecumenical representative for the Ecumenical
Patriarchate, were in Rome this week to join in the anniversary
celebrations.
The establishment of this Pontifical Council—originally known as the
Secretariat for Christian Unity—was “a milestone on the ecumenical
journey of the Catholic Church,” Pope Benedict said, and the group’s
work has been vital to “overcoming the sediments of historical
prejudice.”
Reflecting on the state of ecumenism today, the Holy Father said that
there is a widespread belief that progress has stalled, and thus an
“urgent need to revive ecumenical interest and give a fresh incisiveness
to dialogue.’
For the Catholic Church, the Pontiff continued, the top priority in
ecumenical work is dialogue with the “Orthodox churches and the ancient
Eastern churches, with which bonds of the closest intimacy exist.”
He
reminded his audience that in talks with the Orthodox world, “we have
reached a crucial point of confrontation and reflection: the role of the
Bishop of Rome in the communion of the Church.”
Speaking more generally about the ecumenical process, the Holy Father
warned that it is not “a commitment that falls into what could be called
political categories, in which negotiating ability or greater capacity
to reach compromise come into play.”
Ecumenical talks should seek for
the truth, he said, and cannot be satisfied with mediated solutions to
controversial problems.
At the same time, the Pope continued, unity in prayer is always
appropriate, and prayer will be an indispensable part of every
successful ecumenical endeavor.
He reminded the members of the
Pontifical Council that “we do not know the time that the unity of all
Christ's disciples will be achieved, and we cannot know it, because we
do not 'make' unity, God 'makes' it.”
Therefore all Christians should
join in asking God for that precious gift, the Pope concluded.
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