Pope Benedict XVI on Friday met the members of the Joint International Commission
for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches,
which have been separated for 1500 years.
Listen to the Pope's full
remarks:
Text
of Pope Benedict XVI's address
Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Dear
Brothers in Christ,
It is with great joy that I welcome you, the members of
the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church
and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Through you I gladly extend fraternal greetings
to my venerable Brothers, the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. I am grateful
for the work of the Commission which began in January 2003 as a shared initiative
of the ecclesial authorities of the family of the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. As you know, the first phase
of the dialogue, from 2003 to 2009, resulted in the common text entitled Nature, Constitution
and Mission of the Church. The document outlined aspects of fundamental ecclesiological
principles that we share and identified issues requiring deeper reflection in successive
phases of the dialogue. We can only be grateful that after almost fifteen hundred
years of separation we still find agreement about the sacramental nature of the Church,
about apostolic succession in priestly service and about the impelling need to bear
witness to the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the world. In the
second phase the Commission has reflected from an historical perspective on the ways
in which the Churches expressed their communion down the ages. During the meeting
this week you are deepening your study of the communion and communication that existed
between the Churches until the mid-fifth century of Christian history, as well as
the role played by monasticism in the life of the early Church. We must be confident
that your theological reflection will lead our Churches not only to understand each
other more deeply, but resolutely to continue our journey decisively towards the full
communion to which we are called by the will of Christ. For this intention we have
lifted up our common prayer during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which has
just ended. Many of you come from regions where Christian individuals and communities
face trials and difficulties that are a cause of deep concern for us all. All Christians
need to work together in mutual acceptance and trust in order to serve the cause of
peace and justice. May the intercession and example of the many martyrs and saints,
who have given courageous witness to Christ in all our Churches, sustain and strengthen
you and your Christian communities. With sentiments of fraternal affection I
invoke upon all of you the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.