Renowned Orthodox theologian and Metropolitan of Pergamon John Zizioulas was one of
the speakers at Wednesday's celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Pontifical
Council for Christian Unity. Reflecting on the positive contribution the Council and
its members have made to furthering Catholic-Orthodox relations, he said he is optimistic
about finding agreement even on the most difficult issue of the exercise of papal
primacy. Philippa Hitchen spoke with him after his presentation and asked him what
he saw as the most significant results of the past 50 years...
Listen ..
"The first
and most important fruit is the relationships of love and respect that have been cultivated
by the Council, particularly between Catholics and Orthodox because as you now in
the past in the second millennium there have been many conflicts between them so this
reversal and change of atmosphere is the most important thing. Then I think for
me, as a theologian, and I think for the whole church the theological dialogue has
been a real blessing, a fruit of the work of the Pont Council, in cooperation with
the Orthodox but the people who started the dialogue like Cardinal Willebrands, Bishop
Duprey, Mgr Fortino and so on, they were so enthusiastic about it and we miss them
very much. So it was a period of great expectations, when we started the dialogue.
I think the momentum continues, despite all the difficulties, it’s still in the centre
of our relations and I believe there is a future in the dialogue."