The fruit of patience

A book which is the fruit of 5 years of ecumenical work was written by a group of six Catholic theologians of the Pontifical Lateran University and Lutheran theologians from the University of Tubinga exploring the themes of fundamental theology away from the limelight of the media. The text, titled “Foundation and objective dimension of faith according to the Roman Catholic and Lutheran evangelical doctrines”, was presented past April 7 in Tubinga, Germany and today in Rome’s Pontifical University. This morning two representatives of the interconfessional research group (the director of the area of research Eilert Herms along with Catholic theologian Lubomir Zak) presented Pope Benedict XVI with the book at the end of the general audience.The contribution of Pope Ratzinger. The gift along with the Latin inscription for the Pope on the front page, are not accidental. Indeed, when Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, he initiated this theological dialogue through his personal relationship with Lutheran theologian Eilert Herms. Cardinal Ratzinger – says Giuseppe Lorizio, who coordinates the study group – then asked Cardinal Angelo Scola, who at the time was the rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, to continue this dialogue. This is how this study group came into being. It is currently chaired by Prof. Hermes, representing Lutheran theological perspective, and by Professor Lorizio, representing Catholic theology. Other members are Catholic theologians Massimo Serretti and Lubomir Zak, and Lutheran theologians Wilfried Härle and Christoph Schwöbel. Arousing new dynamism. Our work – said Giuseppe Lorizio – is aimed at creating “a bridge between the prestigious theological Evangelical faculty of Tubinga, located in the heart of German Lutheran Protestantism, and the Lateran Theological faculty, located in the heart of Rome. A bridge uniting two hearts”. “Like all bridges, its construction required a lot of work. Our hope is that it will never collapse”. Our undertaking takes on a special significance to the light of “ecumenical dialogue” which is undergoing a period of “stagnation” also due to the reactions to the consensus on the doctrine of justification in Germany. Our goal was to contact those theologians who oppose this consensus”, in order to trigger a “new dynamism”. “Many have spoken of ecumenical patience. To be patient means being able to wait and also to suffer the separation of Churches and the confrontation between identities, structures of thought, positions and theories which despite their difference cannot afford to ignore one another”, Lorizio concluded”. Methodical empathy. Hermann Barth, President of Germany’s Department of the Evangelical Church, declared that Germany, being the Country which saw the birth of the Reformation, suffers from its separation from Christianity more than any other Country. This is why the Evangelical Church follows this project with passion and great expectations”. If a “convergence” on the major theological issues is not yet possible “because of existing differences”, this project -Barth pointed out – “has a great innovative potential.”. Theologians are indeed required to undertake a “methodical empathy”. For once, evangelical theologians try to employ not only an Evangelical but also a Catholic approach. Catholic theologians do the same from their standpoint. Friederich Weber, President of Germany’s National Committee of the World Lutheran Alliance, claimed that this method could represent ” a new way to ecumenism”, since “without true interest for the ‘other’, it’s impossible to establish profound mutual understanding”. Also cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar of Rome, highlighted the validity of this approach based on empathy. “The unprecedented methodical empathy – he wrote in his address for the German presentation of the volume – employed by theologians from the two confessions to explore the counterparts’ traditions, discloses not only an understanding of the identity of the other, but also a deeper perception of the elements belonging to each one”, thus accomplishing “a change in mutual appreciation whose effects will be felt also in the realm of ordinary Christian life”. An offering of meaning. The ground upon which this “common Christian life” is disclosed – His Eminence said – “is marked by new concerns” and “new important elements”, like “the anthropological question, the related problems of public ethics” along with the development of “science and biotechnologies”. “In this framework, the contribution of theology is consistent and crucial”. This is why “I believe that all efforts aiming at exploring the deep truths of Christian faith represent an offering of meaning to contemporary men and women”.