‘We have to go together to the point of reconciliation to counter the sickness that has overtaken our churches’
Pope Francis has urged the “state of crisis” in the Catholic-Orthodox churches can be healed by working together for the good of humanity.
Francis’s words in a meeting with ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on Wednesday night came a month after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, attended an ecumenical synod in Rome.
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Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at their private audience in Rome. Photograph: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
The ecumenical journey between the two Orthodox churches, which have divided since the third century, is often viewed as one of the longest roads in the church. However, Francis seemed to indicate the two churches were now prepared to move forward.
“We have to go together to the point of reconciliation to counter the sickness that has overtaken our churches,” the pope said. “We have to advance, albeit in phases and with discernment and common commitment, to the path of rapprochement.”
Francis then moved on to refer to the tension and disagreements caused by different interpretations of the words of Jesus. He was referring to the dispute that erupted among ecumenical groups over whether God spoke to the Israelites through Moses when he said: “I am with you.” The church has long included members who claim to speak for these to the exclusion of those who claim to speak for Jesus.
During the meeting, Francis also read from the new Roman-language document that will determine which Christian group speaks for the Greek-speaking churches that reject papal leadership, rather than be regarded as an Orthodox church, as some Greeks and Armenians view themselves.
Pope Francis and Orthodox leader Bartholomew of Constantinople. Photograph: L’Osservatore Romano/Reuters
The document will lay the foundation for the ecumenical talks to focus on major issues concerning the Orthodox and Catholics, including the clergy sex abuse crisis, abortion and women priests.
Orthodox and Roman Catholics were reunited in 1988 when the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow and the pope of Rome met for the first time in almost 1,000 years.
Benedict in April pledged to “work ceaselessly” with Pope Francis to bring the Orthodox and Catholics closer together, especially in relation to the “core teachings and values” of the faith.