The Pope – to Phanar delegates: Our goal is fullness of communion
Pope Francis and Archbishop Job (Getcha). Photo: Vatican News
The goal of the dialogue with the Orthodox is complete unity, Pope Francis addressed the members of the delegation of the Church of Constantinople, which was led by the Archbishop Job (Getcha) of Telmessos.
“As Bishop of Rome, I want to reaffirm that, for us Catholics, the purpose of dialogue is full communion in legitimate forms of diversity, not a monotonous levelling, much less absorption,” the online edition Vatican News of the head of the Roman Catholic Church reported.
Pope Francis acknowledged that he sees the possibility of restoring full union between Catholic and Orthodox faithful through "respect for specific identities and harmonious coexistence in legitimate forms of diversity".
“The Holy Spirit creatively awakens the diversity of gifts, harmonizes them and leads to the true unity, not a homogeneity, but a symphony of many voices of merciful love,” he said.
He called to reciprocate roots, the good that the Lord sowed and developed in each of the Churches and not to be afraid of dialogue and specific cooperation during further joint meetings.
“In this sincere transparency pleasing to the Lord, we will meet and try to better appreciate our identity. We will grow in knowledge and mutual affection. We will feel that for all the differences, in fact, there is much more that unites us and inspires us to move forward together,” concluded Pope Francis.
Recall the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople arrived in the Vatican on June 27, 2019 on the occasion of the triumph of Sts Peter and Paul. The Orthodox delegation at the Vatican was led by Archbishop Job (Getcha) of Telmessos, a representative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople at the World Council of Churches and a co-chairman of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic and Oriental Orthodox Churches. The delegates of Phanar met not only with the Pope, but also with representatives of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
Read also
Zelensky prays with Jews, Muslims, Catholics, OCU, and UGCC at Kyiv Sofia
At the event in St. Sofia of Kyiv, Sheikh Ahmed Tamim asked Allah for “victory over the enemy for the sake of Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses.”
UOC community in Germany moves to Constantinople Patriarchate
UOC clergy in Erfurt argued their decision to transfer to the Church of Constantinople by claiming that Germany is supposedly the canonical territory of the Phanar.
Volyn deputy on Forgiveness Sunday: I ask forgiveness from everyone except UOC
Huz’s aide said that UOC believers “have no love.”
UOC delivers charging stations to frontline communities in Donetsk region
The UOC Social Department sent five high-capacity power units to Druzhkivka, Lyman, and Sloviansk; the equipment will help residents cope with electricity outages.
Participants of U.S. Christian forum call for "moral imperative" to shape AI
At the conference in the United States, theologians and IT experts discussed how artificial intelligence affects relationships, faith, and society, emphasizing the need for ethical frameworks.
Radical groups reported among those who seized UOC church in Shchaslyve
During the seizure of the church in Shchaslyve, radical groupings acted, including the “Combat Brotherhood of Ukraine” and “Right Youth,” who present themselves as “believers.”