Primacy of Pope not an Obstacle, but a Bridge to Ecumenism: Card. Koch

Vatican City, 15 January 2014: "From the ecumenical point of view the pontificate of Pope Francis began very well. The representatives of all the churches were present at the inauguration of his pontificate. Among them was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and it was for the first time in history that a Patriarch was present at the inauguration of a new pontificate.

In an interview to Italian religious news agency SIR, on the eve of the week of prayer for Christian Unity, Card. Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said that with Pope Francis ecumenism received a thumps up, quickly adding that there is a great deal of continuity between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis because they both have a big heart for ecumenism. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is scheduled for January 18 - 25 on the theme "Christ cannot be divided’.

In the interview, the cardinal stressed the importance of the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to the Holy Land, May 24 to 26, and his scheduled meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, 50 years after the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras.

As for the possibility of a meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, card. Koch emphasized the importance of the "preparatory phase" for such an event, because, he said, "it would be the first time that a Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church and Pope meet."

When asked about how to understand the Apostolic Exhortation "Evangelii Gaudium" where Pope Francis touches upon collegiality and primacy of the Pope, Cardinal Koch said that the feedback he received on the Apostolic Exhortation from the representatives of other Churches are very positive. They were very touched, he said, adding that they found the exhortation expresses a common vision. Since the Second Vatican Council, all popes have emphasized the unity of Christians, and that the Primacy of Pope is not an obstacle but a bridge for ecumenism, added Cardinal Koch.
Source: VR Sedoc