Cardinal Koch: Close ties support
the path of ecumenism
Cardinal Kurt Koch speaks about the challenges and progress
made along the Church’s ecumenical journey, on the occasion of the 60th
anniversary of what is now the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
By Vatican News
“Two events of great importance for the cause of Christian
unity are currently being commemorated,” said the President of the Pontifical
Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch.
He made the declaration on the occasion of the 25th anniversary
of “Ut unum sint” and the 60th anniversary of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
On 5 June 1960, Pope Saint John XXIII established the
Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, which later became the Pontifical
Council in 1988.
On 25 May 1995, Pope Saint John Paul II issued “Ut unum
sint”, his encyclical on ecumenical commitment, describing it as “the
irreversible path” of the Catholic Church.
In an interview with Vatican News’s Massimiliano Menichetti,
Cardinal Koch shared his reflections on the Church’s journey along the path of
ecumenism.
Ecumenical context
Cardinal Koch said that, since 1960, the Church has been
able to produce much fruit from the many dialogues and meetings organized as
part of the ecumenical movement. However, he noted, the ultimate objective of
unity has not yet been achieved because “there is agreement on the need for
unity but not on what form it should take.”
Nevertheless, “unity and multiplicity are not opposed even
in ecumenism”, as each church can make its specific contribution to the
restoration of unity. The ecumenical process is an “exchange of gifts.”
For example, we can learn about the centrality of the Word
of God in the life of the Church from ecclesial communities born out of the
Reformation. The Orthodox Church, he said, can teach us about synodality and
the collegiality of Bishops, while the Catholic Church can offer its emphasis
on the universality of the Church to the ecumenical movement.
Steps towards ecumenism
Cardinal Koch highlighted three important points in the
journey towards ecumenism.
The first, he said, is the dialogue of charity, which
consists in maintaining friendly relations between the different churches, and
which is helpful in overcoming prejudices of the past.
The second – the dialogue of truth – is the “theological
analysis of controversial questions” that have led to division throughout
history.
The third – spiritual ecumenism – is the “profound and
concordant adherence to the priestly prayer of Jesus that ‘all may be one.’”
John Paul II holds interreligious prayer service in Assisi
25th anniversary of “Ut unum sint”
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Saint John Paul
II’s Ut unum sint, Cardinal Koch remarked its importance,
given that it was the first encyclical on ecumenism written by a Pope.
The Cardinal recalled that Saint John Paul II stressed the
commitment of the Catholic Church to the ecumenical path in the encyclical.
Saint John Paul II, he said, also invited all members of the Church to engage
in a “patient, fraternal dialogue” on the primacy of the Bishop of Rome, with
the aim of finding a form of exercise of the primacy which does not renounce
what it essential to its mission but “opens itself to a new situation.” This,
according to Cardinal Koch, “is a very promising initiative.”
The Popes and ecumenism
Cardinal Koch noted that all the post-Vatican II Popes have
shown openness to and continuity on the ecumenical path.
He said that Pope Saint John XXIII stressed that the
restoration of Christian unity was fundamental to the renewal of the Church.
Pope Saint Paul VI contributed to the adoption of “Unitatis Redintegratio”,
the decree of Ecumenism. Saint John Paul II was convinced that the third
millennium would have to face the great task of restoring lost unity. Pope
Benedict XVI considered ecumenism as a “matter of faith” and therefore a
primary duty of the successor of Peter.
For Pope Francis, continued the Cardinal, “it is fundamental
that the various ecclesial communities walk together on the part of unity,
because unity grows as we journey together.”
John Paul II with Patriarch Dimitrios I
Ministry of Bishops
Cardinal Koch highlighted that the ministry entrusted to
Bishops is important, as it is “a service of unity” in each diocese between the
local and the universal Church. It also consists in accompanying all members of
the Church, including the non-Catholic baptized.
To mark the double anniversary, the Pontifical Council is
publishing a Vademecum (a reference manual) intended to help
Bishops better understand and translate their ecumenical responsibility.
The Pontifical Council is also publishing “Acta Œcumenica”,
a review which will provide the latest information on the ecumenical commitment
of Pope Francis and the activities of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity. It will also serve as a resource for ecumenical formation.
Interreligious encounter in Assisi
Covid-19
With the precautionary measures put in place to prevent the
spread of Covid-19, Cardinal Koch explained that it has been difficult
continuing the work of ecumenism. He pointed out that ecumenism relies on
“direct, personal encounters” which have not been possible due to travel
restrictions.
However, the difficult situation, noted Cardinal Koch,
“contributes to bringing Christian churches together as all of them are in the
same boat.”
He remarked that this was evident when Pope Francis invited
everyone to join him in the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer on 25 March to pray
for an end to the pandemic. The letters he sent to the heads of various
Christian churches were received warmly and many expressed their gratitude for
the Pope’s initiative.
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