Patriarch Bartholomew says Catholic dialogue aims at one shared Chalice
The head of the Phanar said Constantinople and the Vatican are discussing the Filioque and papal infallibility, expressing hope that Orthodox and Catholics will one day share Communion.
Patriarch Bartholomew, Primate of the Church of Constantinople, said the ultimate goal of ecumenical dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church is to celebrate the Divine Liturgy together and receive Communion from the same Chalice. He made the remarks in the documentary Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch, produced by Greek public broadcaster ERT to mark the 35th anniversary of his patriarchate.
"We are now discussing the Filioque and papal infallibility, and we hope that over the years, above all through the grace of the Holy Spirit, we will reach the goal we seek – the longed-for unity, the common Chalice, as my predecessor of blessed memory, Patriarch Athenagoras, used to say – so that we may celebrate the Liturgy together and receive Communion from the same Holy Chalice," the head of the Phanar said.
He expressed confidence that "one day the Lord will grant us the longed-for unity we enjoyed in the first millennium, so that we may once again share communion in faith and the Sacraments."
Patriarch Bartholomew also responded to those who consider dialogue between Christian denominations pointless.
"Many misunderstand the purpose and spirit of these dialogues between divided Christians, saying they are a luxury and that nothing will come of them. Whether anything comes of them, and when, is not for human beings to decide – it is a matter of God's Providence. His will is 'that they all may be one,'" he emphasized.
According to the head of the Phanar, the Orthodox Church, "which believes it continues the tradition of the undivided Church," has already "to some extent influenced" the Catholic Church on the issue of conciliarity.
The documentary also notes that in 2013, Patriarch Bartholomew became the first Orthodox primate since 1054 to attend a papal inauguration, when Pope Francis took office.
Recall that on November 28, 2025, Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Leo XIV attended an ecumenical gathering in İznik (ancient Nicaea) marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council. The following day, they signed a joint declaration at the Phanar reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue aimed at restoring full communion between their Churches.
As the UOJ previously reported, Patriarch Bartholomew had described a "common Chalice" with Catholics as inevitable.
