Pope to Eastern Catholic
Churches: love heals divisions
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| Pope Francis meeting bishops of the Oriental Catholic Churches of Europe (Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis on 14 September received in audience some 40
bishop of Oriental Catholic Churches of Europe at the end of their annual
meeting in Rome.
By Robin Gomes
In the face of inequalities and divisions that threaten
peace, we feel called to be artisans of dialogue, promoters of reconciliation
and patient builders of a civilization of encounter that can preserve our times
from the incivility of conflict. Pope Francis made this exhortation to
some 40 Oriental Catholic bishops of Europe whom he received in audience in the
Vatican on Saturday.
Sowers of the Gospel of love
“While so many people allow themselves to be caught up in a
spiral of violence, in a vicious circle of demands and constant mutual
recriminations, the Lord wants us to be meek sowers of the Gospel of love,” the
Pope told the bishops who met him at the end of their 22nd annual
meeting in Rome from 11 to 14 September, on the theme, “The Ecumenical Mission
of Oriental Catholic Churches of Europe Today”.
“I feel that the way shown to us from on high is made up of
prayer, humility and love,” the Pope told the bishops, noting they are
committed to healing the wounds of the past, overcoming prejudices and
divisions, and offering hope to all as they walk side by side on an ecumenical
journey alongside their non-Catholic brothers and sisters.
Variety does not harm unity
Noting that among the bishops there were some from the
Byzantine tradition, the Middle East, India and other regions, the Pope cited
the Second Vatican Council saying, “variety within the Church in no way harms
its unity; rather it manifests it.” In fact, he said, Christian unity is
not uniformity. Uniformity, he stressed, is the destruction of
unity. Instead, Christian truth is “symphonic”, or else there would be no
Holy Spirit.
Communion with the Catholic Church, the Pope pointed out, in
no way detracts from their particular identity. Rather, their communion should
contribute to the full realization of their identity, for example, by
protecting it from the temptation of closing in on itself and falling into national
or ethnic particularisms that exclude others. The danger of our
civilization the Pope said is “particularism that becomes populism that seeks
to command and make everything uniform”.
Underscoring the richness of the spirituality, liturgy and
theology of their Orthodox roots, the Holy Father urged them to further it in
the academic world. Above all, he urged them to help each other “live in
love with all”, saying, “love knows no canonical or jurisdictional
boundaries”. The Holy Father said he feels pained to see a struggle
for jurisdictions among Catholics.
Walking together in love heals divisions
“When we bend over a suffering brother or sister; when we
become neighbours to those who endure loneliness and poverty; when we put at
the centre the marginalized – children who will not see the light of day, young
people deprived of hope, families tested by being broken, or sick or elderly
persons who are cast aside,” the Pope said, “we are already walking together in
the love that heals divisions.”
At the end, the Pope said, the Lord will not seek an account
from us of our territories, jurisdiction or our contribution to the development
of our national identities. “Instead, He will ask how much we loved our
neighbour, every neighbour, and how well we were able to proclaim the Gospel of
salvation to those we met along the road of life.”
Warning particularly against the “poison” of the attachment
to money, the Pope urged the bishops in the love of God and neighbour, saying
in it we find joy and spread hope.
The followers of Christ were united in the beginning, but
growing tensions from the 5th to the 11th century between the Byzantine
Church, based in Constantinople, and the Rome-based Catholic Church,
culminated in the Great Schism of 1054, that split the followers of Christ into
Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Catholicism.
Today, there are 23 “sui iuris” Eastern Catholic Churches or
Oriental Catholic Churches, also called the Eastern-rite Catholic Churches,
that are in full communion with the Pope in Rome, as part of the worldwide
Catholic Church.
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