Only a united Church, the fruit
of the ecumenical movement, will be able to respond to the challenges of
an increasingly globalized world, to give answers which highlight the
ethical foundation of social coexistence.
It is therefore important that
all the faithful feel involved in the ecumenical movement.
Speaking to AsiaNews,
the new president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, highlights these points on his return from
Istanbul, where he attended celebrations for the apostle Andrew, patron
saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The cardinal does not hide the difficulties that
exist in dialogue, but emphasizes that the relationship between the
Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, as Sister Churches, which
resumed after the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical
Patriarch Athenagoras, can now depend on the solid foundations of love
and friendship created between Rome and Constantinople.
The cardinal
also plans to visit other patriarchs and Orthodox churches.
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
celebrates 50 years. What is the overall view of this period in dialogue
between Catholics and Orthodox?
During these 50 years there has been a great effort in
Ecumenism and the meeting between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch
Athenagoras, was the turning point of the great beginning of our journey
together. Of course we still haven’t arrived at full unity
and there is still much to do. But it is especially necessary today to
deepen the dialogue of charity and truth. I think the dialogue of
charity and friendship is the foundation of true ecumenism.
Without
friendship and love, together, dialogue between the two sister Churches
cannot go on.
And so I think the great friendship that characterized
relations between Rome and Constantinople is now an anchor to look at
the future with optimism.
On November 30, as head of the Vatican delegation you
visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which is the
driving force of the ecumenical dialogue in the Orthodox world. This was
a visit of courtesy or was it an attempt to redefine the importance of
ecumenical dialogue after the meeting in Vienna?
First of all we attended the great liturgy for the patron saint
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Apostle Andrew. It was a wonderful
experience, my meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, whom I respect as a
man of deep spirituality and noble kindness, was moving.
This was
followed by a meeting between the delegation of the Patriarchate and
ours and we considered the future of the dialogue.
In Vienna there were
some difficulties, but I'm sure we can find a way to proceed in a
positive way.
It is said that after Vienna dialogue will focus more on the theological rather than historical aspect.
About two years ago, we embarked on a mainly historical
approach, but we realized that the Orthodox have a different way of
dealing with history, than we Catholics.
Since the questions are very
difficult and there is need for expert historians, the Orthodox have
proposed a text on the theological primacy and collegiality.
Because
collegiality is a major theme for the Orthodox, while for Catholics the
major theme is the primacy.
The great challenge for the future is how to
see these two great realities together.
How does the Catholic world view the Orthodox world today?
I think that when we meet with the Orthodox, we feel at home.
This is because the Orthodox have maintained the structures, the
mentality and vision of the ancient Church.
We Catholics are in danger
of forgetting this reality. Although the break with these ancient
Orthodox Churches took place more than a millennium ago, I feel at home
when I visit them.
With the Protestants, even though we are separated by just 400 years, it is another reality.
What response should be given to those minority Catholics
and Orthodox, who are opposed to any initiative in favor of ecumenical
dialogue?
Even among Catholics there are those minorities who do not want
ecumenism. But I think the first challenge in an increasingly
globalized world, is that the Church must breathe, as John Paul II said,
on both lungs, that of the East and the West.
Therefore ecumenical
dialogue is a source of enrichment for all.
In an increasingly globalized world, with a clear social economic and ethical crisis, how can a divided church provide answers?
It is important in today's world, a world of globalization,
that Christianity be a global reality.
Consequently, even in ecumenism,
being able to speak with one language is a specific need of our time, in
order to address all the socio-political and ethical challenges.
Because if the Church does not have a single language, she will not have
anything to say to our society. This is why the very presence of
churches in society depends on the ecumenical movement.
The foundation
of our ecumenism is our faith, our beliefs and our baptism.
In this
sense, we first need to identify ourselves as Christians and then as
Catholic or Orthodox, in the sense of belonging to the two churches -
and not the Protestant denominations as they say – which have the
apostolic tradition in common.
SIC: AN/INT'L