(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met for the first time on Thursday with a delegation of the Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Union of Utrecht, reflecting on the shared ecumenical journey since the group broke away from Rome in the 18th century over questions of papal authority. The group was led by the Archbishop of…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met for the first time on Thursday with a delegation of the Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Union of Utrecht, reflecting on the shared ecumenical journey since the group broke away from Rome in the 18th century over questions of papal authority. The group was led by the Archbishop of…
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“The path towards unity begins with a change of heart, an interior
conversion”. Pope Francis emphasized this when he met with a delegation of
the Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Union of Utrecht. He referred to the “increasing distance between us on matters of ministry and ethical
discernment”. The Pope also reflected on “our shared ecumenical journey” which
demonstrates the need for “convincing witness to the truth and values of
the Gospel” in a Europe which is “ so confused about its own identity and
vocation” and thirsty for God. The
following is the English text of the Holy Father’s address. Your Grace, Your Excellencies, I am pleased to welcome you, the members of the Old
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Union of Utrecht, as your visit offers us a
valuable opportunity to reflect on our shared ecumenical journey. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the promulgation
of the Second Vatican Council’s Decree Unitatis
Redintegratio , which inaugurated a new era of ecumenical dialogue and
expressed the enduring commitment of the Catholic Church to seek the unity of
Christ’s disciples. For all of us, the International Roman Catholic/Old
Catholic Dialogue Commission plays a significant role in seeking ever greater
fidelity to the Lord’s prayer, “that all may be one” (cf. Jn 17:21). It has been possible to build new bridges of a
more profound mutual understanding and practical co-operation. Convergences and consensus have been found,
and differences have been better identified and set in new contexts. While we rejoice whenever we take steps towards a
stronger communion in faith and life, we are also saddened when we recognize
that in the course of time new disagreements between us have emerged. The
theological and ecclesiological questions that arose during our separation are
now more difficult to overcome due to the increasing distance between us on
matters of ministry and ethical discernment. The challenge for Catholics and Old Catholics, then,
is to persevere in substantive theological dialogue and to walk together, to
pray together and to work together in a deeper spirit of conversion towards all
that Christ intends for his Church. In
this separation there have been, on the part of both sides, grave sins and
human faults. In a spirit of mutual forgiveness and humble repentance, we need
now to strengthen our desire for reconciliation and peace. The path towards unity begins with a change of heart, an
interior conversion (cf. Unitatis Redintegratio , 4). It is a spiritual journey from encounter to
friendship, from friendship to brotherhood, from brotherhood to
communion. Along the way, change is inevitable. We must always be
willing to listen to and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit who leads us
into all truth (cf. Jn
16:13). In the meantime, in the heart of Europe, which is so
confused about its own identity and vocation, there are many areas in which
Catholics and Old Catholics can collaborate in meeting the profound
spiritual crisis affecting individuals and societies. There is a thirst for
God. There is a profound desire to
recover a sense of purpose in life. There is an urgent need for a convincing witness
to the truth and values of the Gospel.
In this we can support and encourage one another, especially at the
level of parishes and local communities. In fact, the soul of ecumenism lies in
a “change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer
for the unity of Christians” ( Unitatis
Redintegratio , 8). In prayer for and with one another our differences are
taken up and overcome in fidelity to the Lord and his Gospel. I am always aware that “the holy task of reconciling
all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ transcends
human energies and abilities” ( Ibid ,
24). Our hope is rooted in the prayer of Christ himself for the Church.
Let us immerse ourselves evermore in that prayer so that our efforts may always
be sustained and guided by divine grace. …
Vatican City, 30 October 2014 (VIS) – On 14 October, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations, spoke during the General Debate of the UNGA First Committee held in New York. “The past year has seen progress on the elimination of chemical weapons”, he affirmed; “yet reports of the continued use of chemical weapons, including chlorine gas, reminds the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate once and for all chemical weapons and any use as a weapon of dual-use chemicals”. “With regard to nuclear weapons, the third conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, which will be held in December in Vienna, Austria, is a sobering reminder of the deep frustration of the international community at the lack of speedy progress on nuclear disarmament, and of the inhuman and immoral consequences of the use of weapons of mass destruction”. He remarked that the ninth Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference will take place very soon in New York, and that nearly all the States represented in the room are parties to the treaty. “The NPT’s central promise of nuclear weapons States to gradually disarm in exchange for non-nuclear-weapon States to refrain from acquiring nuclear arms remains at an impasse”. As a consequence, he continued, the Holy See delegation “urges this Committee and the preparation for the ninth NPT Review Conference to focus on the need to move beyond nuclear deterrence, and work toward the establishment of lasting peace founded on mutual trust, rather than a state of mere non-belligerence founded on the logic of mutual destruction. In this regard, the Holy See urges all states to sign and/or ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty without further delay, because it is a core element of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime”, adding that the establishment of weapons of mass destruction free zones, in the opinion of the Holy See delegation, “would be a big step in the right direction, as it would demonstrate we can indeed move toward a universal agreement to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction”. The archbishop concluded by emphasising that the Holy See “welcomes the progress, however modest, in the areas of conventional weapons”, but remains “deeply concerned that the flow of conventional arms continues to exacerbate conflicts around the globe”. He expressed the delegation’s hope that “this year’s session will respond to this challenge, and recognise the grave consequences of the proliferation and use of conventional weapons on human life throughout the world”….
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met for the first time on Thursday with a delegation of the Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Union of Utrecht, reflecting on the shared ecumenical journey since the group broke away from Rome in the 18th century over questions of papal authority. The group was led by the Archbishop of Utrecht Dr Joris Vercammen, president of the International Old Catholic Bishops Conference.
Philippa Hitchen reports :
Noting that the International Dialogue Commission between Rome and the Old Catholic Church has helped build “new bridges” of mutual understanding and practical co-operation, Pope Francis said convergences and consensus have been found, and differences between the two groups have been more clearly identified. At the same time though, he said we are also saddened when we recognize “new disagreements” that have emerged on matters of ministry and ethical discernment, making the theological and ecclesiological questions harder to overcome.
The challenge for Catholics and Old Catholics, Pope Francis said, is to persevere in dialogue and to walk, pray and work together in a deeper spirit of conversion. Noting that there have been “grave sins” on the part of both sides, the Pope said in a spirit of mutual forgiveness and humble repentance, we need now to strengthen our desire for reconciliation and peace. The path towards unity begins with a change of heart, he stressed and on the spiritual journey from encounter to friendship, from friendship to brotherhood, from brotherhood to communion, change is inevitable if we are willing to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
In the meantime, the Pope said, there are many areas in which Catholics and Old Catholics can collaborate in tackling the profound spiritual crisis affecting individuals and societies, especially in Europe which is “so confused about its identity and vocation”. There is an urgent need for a convincing witness to the truth and values of the Gospel, he said and in this we can support and encourage one another, especially at the level of parishes and local communities. The soul of ecumenism, Pope Francis said, lies in a “change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians.”
(from Vatican Radio)…