Posted on 07/02/2013 4:25:13 PM PDT by marshmallow
The more Francis rules the Church with collegiality, the more Eastern Orthodox feel comfortable with reunification
Is Pope Francis’ preference to refer to himself as “bishop of Rome” more than other traditional titles for the papacy a hopeful sign for Catholic-Orthodox relations?
That question was on the minds of those taking part in the recent Orientale Lumen Conference in Washington, D.C. The informal Catholic-Orthodox dialogue, which has been meeting since 1997, held discussions about steps toward full communion between Eastern and Western Christianity.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s first greeting from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica upon his election as Pope Francis struck not a few observers as downplaying his role of universal head of the Church with unlimited jurisdiction worldwide.
“The diocesan community of Rome now has its bishop,” Pope Francis told the crowds in St. Peter’s Square March 13. “And now, we take up this journey: bishop and people. This journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches. A journey of fraternity, of love, of trust among us.”
The greeting impressed people like Father Thomas FitzGerald, dean and professor of Church history and historical theology at Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Mass. “I think for Orthodox ears, that’s good to hear,” he said during discussions at the Washington Retreat House June 17-20. “Everything else is kind of based on that understanding of him being bishop of Rome. I hope that might be a sign of some things to come in terms of the understanding of his role as the bishop of Rome, the pope, by the Catholic Church.”
Father FitzGerald is a member of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation, whose 2010 document “Steps Toward a Reunited Church: A Sketch of an Orthodox-Catholic Vision for the Future,” was......
(Excerpt) Read more at aleteia.org ...
We Romans need to get closer to our Greek counterparts. Then, maybe they’ll share their baklava!
Pope Francis is the Catholic Obama. He isn’t Pope; but the Bishop of Rome. Just like “citizen of the world”. When the world needs men with balls, the conclave gave us Mr. Rogers.
It could’ve been worse. Dolan.
Pope=Bishop of Rome
....Or even Cardinal Sean of Boston.
This Pope at least preaches the Gospel of Christ.
Plus also what is going on now in the Middle East with very old Christian communites which date back to the days of the apostles under increasing attack from the radical elements of Islam.
This is a good sign for increase Christian unity.
In other words, they hope that the "Bishop of Rome" learns his place which is not the supreme bishop but just the first among equals. In other words, agree to their doctrine, not the Catholic Church's.
Even though it won't earn me any points here by some, I will have to say that, based on the very first words and choices of the Bishop of Rome, I have to wonder whether they might be on to something here.
The best way I know to see how the Pope is doing is by reading the hate mail from the feminazis and the Left. Since the feminazis and the Left loathe Pope Francis, I would have to say that Pope Francis is on the right path for being our shepherd on earth.
Wouldn't you agree?
They will!
The original cause of the schism was language. The Romans wanted and got their Latin but the Greeks couldn't handle that and left the Church, as did so many countries who wanted to use their own language.
When the vernacular was allowed in the early 1960's ALL GUNS were spiked and all the schismatic Catholic churches had no more language-ax to grind. Many rejoined the Catholic Church because of that.
When people speak of Roman Catholic-Orthodox Reconciliation, I fear that they may be putting the cart before the horse if they are thinking about shared Communion: a common Eucharist.
That will be the final step toward Reconciliation, if it is to happen.
There are dozens of other steps that we could be taking now that could move us in that direction, which is vital to those who believe that Christ intended us to be as one.
I hear that many Roman Catholic Schools in the United States are struggling to fill their classrooms. It’s a fact that most, if not all of them, have two pay scales, one for children of Roman Catholic families and a slightly higher one for children from non-Roman Catholic families.
What if they began charging children from Eastern and Oriental Orthodox families at the lower rate. Do you think that might boost enrollment? If those families then want to have their children given instruction in their own faith, they’d be assessed an additional fee to cover the cost of the classroom for those classes and for the Orthodox teacher. I think it would be reasonable for the school to continue to require attendance at Mass as they do now, that being the unifying theme of the school.
It’s a shame that it won’t happen.
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