A solid bases

The statement, signed in October in Ravenna by Orthodox and Catholic leaders about ecclesial communion, conciliarism and authority, is “a positive and significant step forward in dialogue, since it provides “a firm basis for the future discussion of the issue of the primacy within the Church on a universal scale”. But “many” are the “difficult issues that need explaining”. This is the double reading – one of hope as well as one of awareness of a still-long way to go – that ends the “Ravenna Document”, discussed and “unanimously” approved by the members of the “International Joint Commission for theological dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church”. The text has been officially disclosed on 15th November, even if it had already been published in English by the agency “Europaica” of the Russian Patriarchate to Strasbourg and therefore previewed by some mass media.THE POPE’S PRIMACY. The document consists of 46 sections, and the final section addresses the crucial point of the Pope’s primacy. Section 41 states that Orthodox and Catholics “agree” on the fact that “Rome, as the Church that ‘presides in charity'”, was “first” in the canon order – at the time of the undivided Church.”Therefore, the Bishop of Rome is the protos amongst the patriarchs”. However – reads the document -, Catholics and Orthodox “do not agree on the interpretation of the historical evidence of that time, in terms of the prerogatives of the Bishop of Rome as the protos”. Orthodox and Catholics recall, in the document, that in the first few centuries the bishop of Rome never convened or presided the ecumenical councils, although “he was closely involved in the decision-making processes”. Therefore “primacy and conciliarism are mutually interdependent”. This means that the primacy of several levels of the life of the Church, the local, regional and universal, must always be regarded from the perspective of conciliarism, and likewise conciliarism must always be regarded from the perspective of primacy. Stating this in principle, the practical issues remain open. This is explained by the members of the Joint Commission in the “conclusions”: “The problem of the role of the Bishop of Rome in the communion of all churches must be studied more deeply”, especially for its “specific function as the ‘bishop of the first See’ in an ecclesiology of koinonia”. “These are crucial questions for our dialogue and for our hopes of reinstating full communion between us”.AUTHORITY . There is perfect harmony between Catholics and Orthodox on the perception of Church authority value. This was made evident in the first part of document which addresses this issue. “It is not the private ownership of those who receive it, nor is it something the community hands over”, we read on paragraph 13, “it is a gift of the Holy Spirit destined to the service ( diakonia ) of the community and which is never practiced externally. Its practice entails participation by the entire community, since the bishop is within the Church and the Church within the bishop”. Authority , the document continues, “is in all forms and at all levels a service of love, as that of Christ. The authority we are referring to, since it expresses divine authority, can only exist inside the Church if stemming from the love between the party exerting it and those who are subject to it”. It is therefore a kind of authority with no domination nor form of coercion”, it is therefore “radically different from the authority of National and World leaders”. “To Christians, to govern is to serve”, the Orthodox and the Christians wrote. Consequently, spiritual practice and effectiveness of Church authority are ensured though free consent and voluntary cooperation”.FUTURE PROGRESS . The next session of the theological mixed Commission will be held in two years. On that occasion the topics tackled will be the role of the bishop of Rome in the universal Church of the first millennium. Vatican Councils One and Two will be the other topics tackled. “This won’t be an easy task”, said Cardinal Walter Kasper speaking at the Vatican Radio. This is why there is still “a long and difficult path ahead of us, but this document gives reason for hope, we have reached a first important stage”, added the prelate. There is also the question of the retreat of the Russian Orthodox delegation in Ravenna due to the presence of the Estonian Church – tied to Constantinople – in the Comission “We believe it’s important that the Russian Orthodox Church participates in our dialogue also in the future”, affirmed Cardinal Kasper.”We cannot interfere but we want to ask Moscow and Constantinople to do their best to find a solution”.