Brining Catholics and Orthodox closer ” “

The ‘Pro Orient’ Foundation is a result of the decision of Cardinal Franz König 50 years ago, in November 1964 – long before the promulgation of the Council document “Unitatis redintegratio” – to facilitate relations with Orthodox Churches which at the time were under severe supervision by national Communist authorities. Massimo Lavena, for SIR Europe, interviewed Professor Erich Leitenberger, Pro Orient spokesperson, in the light of the economic crisis and surging migration flows towards Western Europe, couples by serious problems experienced by Christian Churches of the near East.  The Centrality of Vienna. “Vienna, the capital of a neutral country, in the ‘Cold war’ period was the most appropriate place to engage in unofficial dialogue between representatives of the Catholic Church and representatives of Orthodox Churches – Leitenberger said -. The same method was adopted also with regard to Eastern Churches “. The Pro Orient experience has thus progressed: “Naturally, relations with Byzantine Orthodox Churches changed completely after 1989. On the one side, mutual relations progressed in an atmosphere of recovered freedom, on the other, a major constraint to unity – i.e. the Uniate Churches that saw new light after the fall of Communism – turned out to be a very thorny issue. The tragic conflict of ex Yugoslavia, made things even worse, with inevitable repercussions on Catholic-Orthodox relations”. From the onset, Pro Orient’s commitment was to “raise public awareness – both in the secular and ecclesial realms – about the fact that Europe can only thrive if it breathes with its two lungs, the Western and Eastern lung. And the fact that pope John Paul II developed this concept in Vienna is not incidental”, added the spokesperson. “European culture and European history can be understood only if it encompasses the contribution of the Orthodox Church”. Common Christian faith. For Leitenberger “it should be acknowledged that Orthodox Christians and Christians belonging to ancient Eastern Churches, represent the second largest religious community in Austria, consisting of over 500 thousand people (on a population of over eight million). Strangely enough, sharing such information with the public opinion, policymakers and journalists hasn’t been easy. Moreover, it was largely believed that Muslims were the second largest religious community in Austria, after the Catholic Church. To this regard, Pro Orient gave a major contribution. Its achievements include the acceptance of Orthodox Christians, while it has been acknowledged that the Orthodox Church – owing to shared Christian faith – welcome migration flows. Indeed, Orthodox and Christians from ancient Eastern Churches are perfectly integrated within Austrian society”. The tragedy of persecutions. “Pro Orient’s major concerns include the dangerous situation of the near and middle East”, Leitenberge pointed out. “Through an efficient network the Foundation seeks to provide support to Christians in those lands that gave birth to Christianity. Efforts focus on making people aware that Christianity owes its theology, culture, spirituality, along with its artistic production to Eastern Christians. Support to Eastern Christians is a major concern also for card. Christoph Schönborn, president of the advisory board of the Pro Orient Foundation”. At present Pro Orient “is closely following the tragic situation of two Aleppan citizens abducted during a humanitarian mission a few weeks ago. Pro Orient is particularly affected by this circumstance, as one of the two metropolitans – Syriac-Orthodox bishop Mar Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim –has been one of the most important interlocutors of the foundation for years”.