Secretary's Report

2016 PLENARY ASSEMBLY
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE PCPCU

ASPECTS OF THE ACTIVITY OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN UNITY SINCE THE LAST PLENARY

Bishop Brian Farrell

This presentation outlines the main activities, bilateral dialogues and multilateral engagements undertaken by the Pontifical Council since the last Plenary (November 2014) to date.

This presentation aims at providing an overall picture of the work of the Pontifical Council. Participants in the Plenary this year are invited to reflect on the way in which the dialogues could be conducted more efficiently in order to reach the objective of the ecumenical movement, the visible unity of the Church.

I. DIALOGUE WITH THE EASTERN CHURCHES

The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church as a Whole

A meeting of the drafting group of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church took place in Rome from 25–27 June 2015. The drafting group comprised four Catholic members and four Orthodox members (Ecumenical Patriarchate, Moscow Patriarchate, Patriarchate of Romania, Church of Cyprus). The drafting group developed the draft document prepared during the plenary session held in Amman in September 2014 by incorporating the contributions sent by members of the Commission.

A meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Commission took place in Rome from 14–19 September 2016. This Committee comprised nine Catholic members and nine Orthodox members (Ecumenical Patriarchate, Patriarchate of Alexandria, Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Moscow Patriarchate, Patriarchate of Serbia, Patriarchate of Romania, Church of Cyprus, Church of Greece) and was presided over by Cardinal Kurt Koch and Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Coordinating Committee concluded its study of the draft document, to be submitted to the consideration of the following plenary session of the Joint Commission.

The 14th plenary session of the Joint International Commission took place in Chieti from 15–22 September 2016.The plenary was attended by two representatives of each of the fourteen autocephalous Churches with the exception of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, and the same number of Catholic members, under the presidency of Cardinal Koch and Archbishop Telmessos Job of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in the place of Metropolitan John Zizioulas who had retired due to health reasons. At the conclusion of the plenary session it was agreed to publish “Synodality and Primacy in the First Millennium. Towards a Common Understanding in Service to the Unity of the Church”. The representatives of the Patriarchate of Georgia expressed their disagreement on some paragraphs of the document.

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

Upon the invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Francis visited Phanar (Istanbul) from 29–30 November 2014 to take part in the celebrations for the feast of Saint Andrew, patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Cardinal Kurt Koch accompanied the papal delegation.

Representing His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, His Eminence Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon took part in the press conference held on 18 June 2015 at the Vatican Press Office for the publication of Pope Francis’ Encyclical “’Laudato Si’ on care for our common home. The following 6 August, in a letter addressed to Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and Cardinal Koch, Pope Francis instituted the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation to be celebrated yearly on 1 September, following the similar longstanding initiative of the Orthodox Church. This letter of institution affirms that Pope Francis has taken this decision “sharing the concern of my beloved brother, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, for the future of creation (cf. Laudato Si’, 7–9), ), and at the suggestion of his representative, Metropolitan Ioannis of Pergamum, who took part in the presentation of the Encyclical Laudato Si’ on care for our common home”. Cardinal Koch was requested “to make the necessary contacts with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and with other ecumenical organizations so that this World Day can serve as a sign of a common journey in which all believers in Christ take part”. As well, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity was given the responsibility “to ensure that it is coordinated with similar initiatives undertaken by the World Council of Churches”.

On 16 April 2016, Pope Francis, together with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Hieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, visited Lesvos (Greece) to express closeness to the migrants and refugees on the island off the Turkish coast. Monsignor Andrea Palmieri accompanied the papal delegation.

On 20 September 2016, Pope Francis met the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on the occasion of the international meeting in Assisi dedicated to world peace on the theme “Thirst for Peace: Religions and Cultures in Dialogue” promoted by the Community of Sant’Egidio.

Moscow Patriarchate

1. Meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill

Preparation for the meeting:

15 June 2015: audience of Metropolitan Hilarion with Pope Francis (Vatican)
26 August 2015: meeting between Cardinal Koch and Patriarch Kirill (Moscow)
21 October 2015: audience of Metropolitan Hilarion with Pope Francis (Vatican)

12 February 2016: Historical meeting of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in Havana

10-14 February 2016: Ecumenical visit of Cardinal Koch to Cuba. Audience with Patriarch Kirill and members of the Cuban Council of Churches.

2. Cultural projects

Creation of a “Joint Working Group for the coordination of cultural projects between the Holy See and the Moscow Patriarchate.

20 February 2015: first meeting in Moscow
1 March 2016: second meeting in Rome

Commencement of exchange visits of young Catholic and Russian Orthodox priests:

30 August-13 September 2015: visit to Moscow of a group of 10 Catholic priests at the invitation of the Moscow Patriarchate to take part in a language and cultural visit organized in collaboration with the PCPCU.
14-21 May 2016: study visit to the Vatican of a group of 10 young Russian priests enrolled in various ecclesiastical academies of the Moscow Patriarchate.
26 August-4 September 2016: Study visit to Russian of a group of 10 Catholic priests.

Other cultural projects:

4 December 2015: Exhibition of the paintings of Nesterenko at Palazzo della Cancelleria.
17 December 2015: Ecumenical concert held in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran featuring the Pontifical Sistine Choir and the Synodal Choir of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Serbian Patriarchate

Creation of a Joint Historical Commission for the study of the life of Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac before, during and after the Second World War

24 February 2015: Meeting of Cardinal Koch with Serbian Patriarch Irinej to convey letter of Pope Francis.
25-29 May 2015: Second visit of Cardinal Koch to Serbia. Meetings with Patriarch Irinej and President Tomislav Nikolić.
15-17 January 2016: Visit to the Vatican of a synodal delegation of the Serbian Patriarchate. Audience with Pope Francis.
12-13 July 2016: first meeting of the Joint Commission.
17-18 October 2016: second meeting

Patriarchate of Georgia

13-17 December 2014: Visit of Cardinal Koch to Georgia. Meeting with Patriarch Ilia II.
Research in the Vatican undertaken by scholars of the Patriarchate of Georgia:

19-30 November 2014.

24-30 January 2016.

Orthodox Church of Poland

5-9 December 2014: Visit of Cardinal Koch to Poland. Meeting with Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland. Meeting with members of the Polish Ecumenical Council.

Other events, not associated with the desk:

27 September 2015: Visit of Cardinal Koch to Erbil (Iraq) for the enthronment of the new Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, His Holiness Mar Gewargis III.
18-26 June 2016: Participation (as observers) of the President and Secretary of the PCPCU in the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (Kolymbari, Crete).

The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches

The Phases

The first phase of dialogue, from 2003 to 2009, concluded with the common text entitled “Nature, Constitution and Mission of the Church”. The document highlighted the convergences on some fundamental ecclesiological principles and identified questions requiring a more deepened reflection in the successive phases of dialogue. It is with gratitude that we recognize that, after 1500 years of separation, a consensus is possible on the sacramental nature of the Church, on apostolic succession in the priestly ministry and on the urgency of rendering witness in the world to the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

A new phase of dialogue commenced with the meeting in Antelias (2010) focusing on the study of the existing communion and communication between the Churches until the mid–fifth century of Christian history.

The last two meetings

The major achievement of the twelfth meeting in Rome 2015 of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches was the final approval given to a second common document produced by the dialogue. The document is entitled “The Exercise of Communion in the Life of the Early Church and its Implications for our Search for Communion Today”. In 74 paragraphs, the document examines in detail the nature of the relationships that existed among the member churches in the period leading up to the divisions of the fifth century.

During the thirteenth meeting, that took place at the Saint Mark Coptic Center in Cairo, Egypt, from January 31 to February 6, 2016, the Sacraments of Initiation in the participating churches stood at the centre of a substantial discussion. In the presentation of the papers, consideration was given to the scriptural and patristic foundation of baptism, the specific developments in the Latin tradition of the Sacraments of Initiation, and the correlation between Church and sacraments. The members found that a deeper examination of this topic would be beneficial within the Joint Commission's broader study of the sacraments and their relationship to the Church.

Representatives of the Oriental Orthodox Churches (in alphabetical order):

Antiochian Syrian Orthodox Church: H.E. Mor Theophilus George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon, Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Beirut, Lebanon; H.E. Kuriakose Theophilose, Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary and President of the Ecumenical Secretariat of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in India, Ernakulam, India;

Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of all Armenians): H.E. Khajag Barsamian, Archbishop of the Eastern Diocese of the USA, New York; Rev. Father Shahe Ananyan, Director of the Department of Ecumenical Relations, Etchmiadzin, Armenia;

Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia): Bishop Magar Ashkaryan, of the Armenian Prelacy of Tehran (Iran); H.E. Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church of Cyprus;

Coptic Orthodox Church: H.E. Anba Bishoy, Metropolitan of Damiette, Egypt (co-chair); Rev. Fr. Shenouda Maher Ishak, West Henrietta, New York, USA; H.G. Bishop Daniel of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Sydney, Australia (Observer); H.G. Bishop Barnaba El Soryany, Rome, Italy (Observer);

Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church: Rev. Fr. Kaleab Gebreselassie Gebru, Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Patriarchate, Asmara, Eritrea (unable to attend);

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church: Archbishop Gabriel of Sidamo; Rev. Fr. Daniel Seifemichael Feleke of Holy Trinity Theological University College in Addis Ababa;

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church: H.E. Metropolitan Dr Gabriel Mar Gregorios, President of the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Metropolitan of the Diocese of Trivandrum, India; H.E. Metropolitan Dr Youhanon Mar Demetrios (co-secretary), Metropolitan of the Diocese of Delhi, India.

Representatives of the Catholic Church:

Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Rome (co-chair);

Most Reverend Paul-Werner Scheele, Bishop Emeritus of Würzburg, Germany;

Most Reverend Youhanna Golta, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop of the Coptic Catholic Patriarchate, Cairo, Egypt;

Most Reverend Archbishop Basilios Georges Casmoussa, Syrian Catholic Patriarchate, Beirut, Lebanon;

Most Reverend Peter Marayati, Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo, Syria (unable to attend);

Most Reverend Woldetensae Ghebreghiorghis, Apostolic Vicar of Harar, Ethiopia, President of the Ecumenical Commission of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia and Eritrea;

Most Reverend Paul Rouhana, OLM, Bishop of the Patriarchal Maronite Vicariate of Sarba, Jounieh, Lebanon;

Most Reverend Boghos Levon Zekiyan, Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Istanbul and Turkey;

Rev. Fr. Frans Bouwen M.Afr., Sainte-Anne, Jerusalem;

Rev. Fr. Columba Stewart, OSB, Executive Director, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, Saint John’s Abbey and University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA (unable to attend);

Rev. Fr. Ronald G. Roberson, CSP, Associate Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC, USA;

Rev. Fr. Mark Sheridan, OSB, Pontificio Ateneo S. Anselmo, Rome, and Abu Ghosh, Israel;

Rev. Malpan Fr. Mathew Vellanickal, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry, India;

Prof. Dietmar W. Winkler, Consultant to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Salzburg, Austria.

Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Quicke, Official of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Rome (co-secretary).

Dialogue with the Malankara Churches in India

Two parallel dialogues have been ongoing since 1989 on a yearly basis in Kerala (South India): one with the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and the other with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. These dialogues have dealt mainly with three themes: Church history, ecclesiology and shared witness. The Catholic delegation comprises representatives of the Holy See (Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the PCPCU, and Father Gabriel Quicke, Official) and members of various rites of the Catholic Church: the Latin Church, the Syro–Malabar Church and the Malankar–Syrian Church.

Since 2003 both Malankara Churches are also represented in the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches as one family. Notwithstanding this new configuration, both Churches have wanted to continue a specific dialogue with the Catholic Church in order to reflect principally on questions of particular interest to the Churches in Kerala. The study themes include the shared use of holy sites (churches and cemeteries), the emergence of Pentecostal groups within the Churches, monastic spirituality in India, mission in the pluralist religious context of India, the administration of the sacraments to Christians of other Churches in specific pastoral situations.

Dialogue with the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church

The 17th meeting took place at the Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam, on Wednesday 3 December 2014. The major issues on the agenda included: the Petrine ministry in the Latin liturgical tradition and in the Syrian liturgical tradition, followed by a reflection on how the Oriental Orthodox Churches see the document from the North American Orthodox‑Catholic Theological Consultation entitled: “Steps Towards A Reunited Church”.

The 18th meeting took place at the Patriarchal Centre of Puthencruz on Monday 14th December 2015. The major issues on the agenda included: the Petrine ministry, the moral issues on marriage and divorce and the preparation of the publication of the Agreements and Statements between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in the last 25 years.

Representatives of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church:

Kuriakose Mor Theophilos (Co‑Chairman), Joseph Mar Gregorios, Mathews Mor Aphrem, Mathews Mor Anthimos, Rev. Dr. Addai Jacob Cor‑Episcopa (Co‑Secretary), Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Moolayil Cor‑Episcopa, Rev. Fr. Shibu Cherian, Rev. Fr. Dr. Prince Paulose, Rev. Fr. Greger R. Kollanoor.

Representatives of the Catholic Church:

Bishop Brian Farrell (Co‑Chairman), Mar Joseph Powathil, Mar Mathew Moolakatt, Mar Thomas Mar Koorilos, Bishop Dr. Selvister Ponnumuthan, Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Rev. Dr. Mathew Vellanickal, Rev. Dr. Xavier Koodapuzha, Rev. Dr. Jacob Thekkeparampil, Rev. Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil, Rev. Dr. Philip Nelpuraparampil and Rev. Fr. Gabriel Quicke (Co‑Secretary).

Dialogue with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

The 24th meeting took place at the Spirituality Centre, Manganam, Kottayam, on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 December 2014. The meeting was co‑chaired by Bishop Brian Farrell and Metropolitan Gabriel Mar Gregorios, President of the Department of Ecumenical Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Various issues were on the agenda, including the commemoration of 25 years of dialogue; preparation for publication of the papers presented since 2001. Two papers were presented on the Work of the Holy Spirit in the multireligious context of India.

The 25th meeting took place at the Mar Baselios Dayara (Monastery) in Njaliakuzhy (Kottayam) on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th December 2015. Various major issues were discussed, including The Religious harmony that existed in Kerala in Pre‑Colonial and Colonial Times, Ecclesiological Principles Underlining Pastoral Cooperation and the Principle of Oikonomia in the Orthodox Church. The Joint Commission worked on a Joint Statement on pastoral cooperation.

Representatives of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church:

Metropolitan Gabriel Mar Gregorios (Co‑Chairman), Yakob Mar Irenaios, Fr. Dr. T. I. Varghese, Fr. Jacob Mathew, Fr. Dr. O. Thomas, Fr. Dr. Johns Abraham Konat, Fr. Dr. Reji Mathew, Fr. Dr. Jose John, Fr. M.S. Yuhanon Ramban and Fr. Abraham Thomas (Co‑secretary).

The Catholic Representatives are those mentioned above.

Dialogue with the Assyrian Church of the East

Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East has produced many fruitful results. Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV signed a Joint Christological Declaration on 11 November 1994, which opened new paths for both the theological dialogue and pastoral collaboration. Subsequently, the Joint Committee for Theological Dialogue planned two further phases of work: the first on sacramental theology and the second on the constitution of the Church. The first phase concluded with a wide consensus on sacramental issues, and the final document was presented to the authorities of both churches for approval. However, difficulties arose in connection with the passage into the Catholic Church of one of the most active Assyrian bishops in the dialogue process. At the beginning of October 2012 the Pontifical Council met an Assyrian delegation in order to plan the continuation of the dialogue.

His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos‑Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, visited Pope Francis from 1‑4 October 2014. Meetings were also held at the office of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity to reflect on the second phase of the dialogue. The object will be to reexamine the text on ‘Sacramental life’ already prepared, with a view to a formal signing of the agreement. Internal difficulties due to the situation in the Middle East and also to the health and subsequent death on 26 March 2015 of the Catholicos–Patriarch delayed the commencement of the dialogue. After the election of the new Catholicos–Patriarch, His Holiness Mar Gewargis III, the Synod confirmed its intention to continue the dialogue. The visit of His Holiness Mar Gewargis III to Rome to meet the Holy Father Pope Francis is scheduled for Thursday 17 November 2016.

Official visits

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia attended the Eucharist for the faithful of Armenian Rite presided over by His Holiness Pope Francis on Sunday April 12, 2015 in St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis received His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East on June 18, 2015. There was also a prayer moment at the Redemptoris Mater Chapel.

Pope Francis received His Holiness Abuna Matthias I, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on February 29, 2016.

Catholic Committee for Cultural Collaboration

We should mention in this context the Catholic Committee for Cultural Collaboration, which was instituted in 1963 as a practical way of strengthening Orthodox–Catholic relations. Blessed Paul VI instituted the Catholic Committee for Cultural Collaboration on 27 July 1964. Through the generous support of its benefactors the Committee grants scholarships to young clergy and lay people from the Orthodox Churches and Oriental Orthodox Churches to pursue theological studies at academic institutions of the Catholic Church, and is also able to support other ecumenical collaborative projects. An international Committee for the awarding of scholarships and evaluation of special projects meets every year in March.

The Committee grants scholarships to Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox students undertaking post–graduate studies in Rome or elsewhere. This aspect of its work has proven to be one of the most effective ways of promoting the exchange of gifts between East and West. The Committee offers financial support to various Orthodox theological faculties and ecumenical institutes for the acquisition of texts for their libraries and for special projects (visits, conferences, symposia). In the last academic year the Committee granted 41 annual scholarships, and 17 short–term scholarships. As well, the Committee continues to support a range of special projects in cooperation with some Orthodox institutes.

II. DIALOGUES WITH THE ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES OF THE WEST

International Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Union of Utrecht

The fifth meeting of the second phase of the International Roman Catholic–Old Catholic Commission for Dialogue between the PCPCU and the Bishops’ Conference of Old Catholics of the Union of Utrecht – Köln, Germany, 29 June–3 July 2015.

Sixth meeting – Paderborn, 30 November-3 December 2015.

Seventh meeting – Köln, Germany, 27 June–30 June 2016.

The Commission, which is co–presided on the Old Catholic side by Bishop Matthias Ring and on the Roman Catholic side by Archbishop Hans-Josef Becker, Archbishop of Paderborn, has continued its reflection on the study themes: “The Relationship of the Local to the Universal Church and the Role of the Petrine Ministry” and “Marian Dogmas”.

Anglican Communion

The third phase of ARCIC began its work in 2011. In 2015 the Commission met in Palazzola (outside Rome) and in 2016 in Toronto, Canada.

The Commission continues to work on its mandate: the Church local and universal, and how the Church, local and universal, discerns right ethical teaching. Drafting groups for both statements on ecclesiology and on ethics have been established, and both are working to schemas which adopt some of the method of Receptive Ecumenism, each side asking what it can learn for the experience and praxis of the other.

This year the Commission completed the first task of its mandate, which was to publish the documents of ARCIC II in one volume with introductions and supporting material. This text was presented to Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby by the co‑chairs of ARCIC on the occasion of their meeting, 6th October, 2016. The Commission now asks that these agreed statements be evaluated by the relevant authorities.

ARCIC’s sister Commission, the International Anglican‑Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), also met this year. The Commission pairs an Anglican and Catholic bishop from every region or country where Catholics and Anglicans exist in significant number. The purpose of the Commission is to examine how, on the basis of our theological agreements, Catholics and Anglicans can give joint witness to their common faith in prayer and in action, particularly in service to those who are marginalised and suffering. Thirty‑six bishops representing 19 different regions made a joint pilgrimage in October to Canterbury and Rome. At the end of their meeting they produced a brief joint statement, “Walking Together: Common Service to the World and Witness to the Gospel” which will be published shortly.

IARCCUM's meeting was timed to coincide with the visit of Archbishop Justin Welby to Rome to celebrate the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey, fifty years ago. A number of events celebrated this anniversary, including an Academic Symposium at the Gregorian University. Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby celebrated vespers together at San Gregorio al Celio at which they mandated the IARCCUM bishops, sending them out in pairs to work in ecumenical mission.

It was also at these vespers that the Pope and Archbishop signed a Common Declaration. While recognising the fact that there remain “serious obstacles” to our unity, such as the ordination of women and disagreements concerning human sexuality, the declaration clearly states that these differences do not lessen our determination to be in dialogue, do not prevent us from recognising and celebrating each other's Christian faith, and will not stand in the way of seeking to give joint witness to the Gospel by word and deed.

Co‑Chairs

The Most Revd Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, England

The Most Revd Sir David Moxon, Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See

Catholic representatives:

The Revd Robert Christian OP, Angelicum University, Rome;

The Revd Adelbert Denaux, Professor Emeritus, Brugge, Belgium;

Professor Paul D. Murray, Durham University, England;

Professor Sister Teresa Okure SHCJ, Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria;

Professor Janet E. Smith, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, Michigan, USA;

The Revd Professor Vimal Tirimanna CSsR, Alphonsianum University, Rome;

The Very Revd Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB, Ampleforth Abbey, England;

Reverend Anthony Currer, Official of the PCPCU.

Anglican representatives:

The Rt Revd Christopher Hill, The Church of England;

Canon Dr Paula Gooder, The Church of England;

The Rt Revd Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, Anglican Church of Southern Africa;

The Rt Revd Linda Nicholls, The Anglican Church of Canada;

The Revd Canon Peter Sedgwick, The Church in Wales;

The Revd Canon Nicholas Sagovsky, The Church of England;

The Revd Dr Charles Sherlock, The Anglican Church of Australia (Consultant).

The World Methodist Council

The current phase of dialogue commenced in 2012 and concluded this year. In 2015 the members of the Commission met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This year the Commission produced its report on the theme of holiness entitled, “The Call to Holiness: from Glory to Glory”. The report examines the theme from an anthropological, soteriological, ecclesiological and eschatological perspective. The final chapter of the report provides what might be considered a study guide to the text, which encourages Catholics and Methodists to translate the areas of common understanding and faith into common prayer and action. The document also presents holy exemplars (brief biographies of Catholics and Anglicans who have led outstanding holy lives) and concludes with an Appendix of shared prayer and liturgical resources.

The statement was presented at the World Methodist Conference which met in Houston in September. A Catholic commentary is being prepared which, when completed, will be published with the document on the website of the Holy See.

Methodist representatives:

Co‑Chair: Rev Dr David M. Chapman;

Co‑Secretary: Rev Dr Karen Westerfield Tucker;

Rev Dr Edgardo Colon‑Emeric;

Rev Dr Young Ho Chun;

Rev Dr James Haire now replaced by Prof Priscilla Pope‑Levison;

Rev Dr Trevor Hoggard;

Bishop Chikwendu Igwe;

Rev Dr Leao Neto.

Catholic representatives:

Co‑Chair: Bishop Donald J. Bolen;

Co‑Secretary: Rev Anthony Currer;

Sr Dr Lorelei Fuchs;

Mons Dr Gerard McCarren;

Bishop Joseph Osei‑Bonsu;

Rev Dr Jorge Scampini, OP;

Bishop John Sherrington;

Dr Clare Watkins.

The Lutheran World Federation

The sixth plenary meeting of the fifth phase of the Lutheran–Catholic Commission for Unity was held in Budapest, Hungary, from 13–21 July 2015, and the seventh meeting at Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom, from 17–21 July 2016, co–presided on the Lutheran side by Bishop Emeritus Eero Huovinen of Helsinki (Finland) and on the Catholic side by Bishop William Kenney, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham (England), continuing its reflection on the theme “Baptism and Growing Communion”.

The meeting of the LWF Council

Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany, 13-21 June 2016

Chaired by the LWF President, Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and Reverend Martin Junge, who was re–elected Secretary General for a further mandate, the LWF Council met on the main theme of “Grounding in God’s Love. Discerning God's Future”. Cardinal Koch presented a paper on “Salvation – Not for Sale”, while the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches spoke on “Creation not for sale”, and the Secretary General of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, Reverend Chris Ferguson, concentrated on the theme “Human Beings – Not for Sale”.

The “Joint Staff Meeting” between the LWF and the PCPCU: Representatives of the LWF and the PCPCU meet regularly for consultation at least once a year, alternatively in Geneva and Roma. The issues discussed in the conversation concern current questions and planning of the international Catholic–Lutheran dialogue. Catholic participants: Cardinal Koch, Bishop Farrell and Monsignor Türk. Lutheran participants: Reverend Junge, LWF Secretary General, Reverend Hintikka, Vice–Secretary General for ecumenical issues, Professor Dieter, Director of the LWF Ecumenical Institute of Strasbourg and consultor to the Commission, and Reverend Professor Dirk Lange.

Ecumenical pastoral visit of Pope Francis to the Evangelical Lutheran community “Christuskirche” in Rome on 15 November 2015.

The third meeting of the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue held in Finland from 10–12 December 2015 and the fourth meeting in Helsinki, Finland, from 13–18 May 2016, under the presidency of Bishop Teemu Sippo, SCJ, Bishop of Helsinki, and Reverend Simo Peura, Lutheran Bishop of Lapua, continued its reflections on the basis of the consensus document entitled “Justification in the Life of the Church”, as well as its work on the preparation for the joint declaration “Church, Ordained Ministry and Eucharist”. Monsignor Türk attended the meeting as an observer of the PCPCU.

Following a longstanding thirty–year tradition, Pope Francis received in a private audience on 18 January an ecumenical delegation from Finland visiting Rome for the Feast of Saint Henrik, patron saint of Finland. The delegation was led by the Lutheran Bishop of Helsinki, Ms Irja Askola, H.E. Ambrosius, Orthodox Metropolitan of Helsinki, and the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Helsinki, Bishop Teemu Sippo, SCJ. The delegation included the Director of the Department for International Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Reverend Dr Kimmo Kääriäinen.

The Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE)

The fourth consultation between the PCPCU and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) held in Ludwigshafen, Germany, 28–30 June 2015, once again dealt with the question of the concept of the Church and the definition of the ecumenical aim. The meeting, co–presided by Bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann, Bishop of Speyer (Germany), was attended by seven theologians on each side. Monsignor Matthias Türk attended as Co–Secretary.

World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC)

The fourth phase of international dialogue between the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity took place from 2011 to 2015 over the course of five annual meetings. The general theme of this last phase was “Justification and Sacramentality: The Christian Community as an Agent for Justice”. This phase also initiated a process of discernment regarding whether the WCRC would associate itself with the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification”.

In fact, the WCRC has decided to affiliate itself formally with the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ). A formal ceremony of association with Lutherans, Methodists and Catholics will take place at the end of June 2017 in conjunction with the 2017 General Council.

From 7–13 May 2016, the PCPCU took part as an ecumenical guest in the meeting of the Executive Committee of the WCRC which took place in Havana, Cuba. On 10 June 2016, a delegation led by President Jerry Pillay and Secretary General Chris Ferguson met with Pope Francis and visited the PCPCU.

Reformed participants in the dialogue:

Revd Dr Martha Moore Keish, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia, USA, (Co–President); Revd Dr Douwe Visser, Executive Secretary for Theology, Mission and Communion (Co–Secretary); Revd Dr Reinerio Arce Valentin (Cuba); Revd Dr Marina Ngursangzeli Behera (India); Dr Christopher Dorn (USA); Revd Dr George Hunsinger (USA); Dr George Sabra (Lebanon); Revd Dr Lindsay Schlüter (Scotland); Revd Dr Benebo Fubara Manuel (Nigeria).

Catholic participants:

Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend, Indiana, USA, (Co–President; Monsignor Gregory J. Fairbanks, later by Reverend Avelino A. Gonzalez, Officials of the PCPCU (Co–Secretary); Dr Peter Casarella (USA), Dr Peter De Mey (Belgium); Revd Dr William Henn, OFM Cap. (USA/Italy); Revd Dr Jorge Scampini, OP (Argentina); Dr Annemarie Mayer (Germany).

Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) – Catholic International Commission for Dialogue (Fifth phase)

The fourth meeting of the fifth phase of dialogue took place in Calgary, Canada from 18 to 22 June, 2016 under the general theme “Christians formed and transformed by the Eucharist”. Discussions focused on the specific themes of “Formed by the Eucharist: The significance of Eucharistic Catechesis” and “Transformed by the Eucharist: the Eucharist and Relationships within the Church”. It is important to recall that dialogue aims at full visible unity. The Disciples’ self-understanding is a “Protestant Eucharistic Community” in which Christian unity is a fundamental goal. Thus, rediscovering together the key role of the Eucharist for all Christians is an essential aspect of this dialogue. A draft concerning the theme “Formed by the Eucharist” is being prepared.

Mennonite World Conference (MWC)

The Mennonite World Conference (MWC) defines itself as a communion of Anabaptist‑related churches linked to one another in a worldwide community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness. The MWC represents 1,700,000 believers from 243 national conferences of churches in 83 countries on six continents; about two‑thirds of the baptized believers are African, Asian or Latin American.

Since both the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) had expressed their readiness to initiate new rounds of conversations with the MWC, and since both the PCPCU and LWF had recommended baptism as a topic for such conversations, a trilateral dialogue began in December 2012 to study the question of the mutual recognition of baptism. The theme of the dialogue is “Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church”. The third meeting of the dialogue took place from 28 February to 4 March 2016 in Bogotá, Colombia, on the theme “Baptism: Communicating Grace and Faith”. The fourth meeting of the Commission will take place from 8–14 February 2017 in Hamburg, Germany, after which the Commission will present its final report to the LWF, MWC and PCPCU.

Catholic participants:

Bishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga, IMC (Colombia) (Co–President); Monsignor Gregory J. Fairbanks, later by Revd Avelino A. Gonzalez, Officials of the PCPCU (Co–Secretary); Revd Dr William Henn, OFM Cap. (Italy/USA); Revd Dr Luis M. Melo, SM (Canada); Sister Marie Hélène Robert, NDA (France).

Lutheran participants:

Professor Dr Friederike Nüssel (Germany) (Co–President); Revd Dr Kaisamari Hintikka (Switzerland/Finland) (Co–Secretary); Bishop Musawenkosi Biyela (South Africa); Professor Dr Theodor Dieter (France); Revd Dr Kwong Sang Peter Li (Hong Kong).

Mennonite participants:

Professor Dr Alfred Neufeld (Paraguay) (Co–President); Revd Dr Larry Miller (France) (Co–Secretary); Professor Dr Fernando Enns (Germany/Netherlands); Professor Dr John Rempel (Canada); Revd Rebecca Osiro (Kenya).

World Baptist Alliance (WBA)

The World Baptist Alliance represents the largest Protestant denomination in the world. A preparatory meeting for a new phase of dialogue took place at the PCPCU on 16 May 2016. This third phase is envisaged to commence at the end of June 2017 on the theme “The Power of the Gospel, the Witness of the Church”.

Salvation Army

The conversations held from 2007–2012 were published in 2014 with the title “Conversations with the Catholic Church”. For the first time, a delegation of the Salvation Army, including General André Cox, made a formal visit to the Holy Father on 12 December 2014. The meeting was important for building bridges between the two communities. While there are currently no conversations, the Salvation Army has indicated its willingness to commence a new dialogue.

Catholic – Pentecostal International Dialogue

The Final Report of the sixth phase of dialogue “Do not Quench the Spirit. Charisms in the Life and Mission of the Church”, was published in 2016 (Information Service 147 [2016/I] pp. 47-62. Worth mentioning that for the first time ever an ecumenical dialogue addressed the topic of Charisms, which is relevant for relationships at the local level and in view of new theological insights. It is a general reflection on the Charisms in the life and mission of the church which also allowed participants to reflect on three other specific charisms: prophecy, healing and discernment of the spirits.

A Catholic commentary written by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa was published together with the Report.

International Consultation between the PCPCU and the World Evangelical Alliance

The third series of consultations of the fifth meeting has just been concluded with the finalization of the Final Report (still to be published) entitled: ‘Scripture and Tradition’ and ‘The Church in Salvation’: Catholics and Evangelicals Explore Challenges and Opportunities.

Three important points are to be outlined regarding this Report: firstly, the use of a data bank from responses on questionnaires from 22 countries (5 continents) concerning relationships between Catholics and Evangelicals on the local level. Secondly, the new method adopted in the writing of the report intended to favour reception and convey the actual situation, which readers are invited to reproduce locally. And thirdly, a point that could not be ignored, are the constant challenges from criticism of different National Alliances towards the consultations in general and relations with Catholics in particular.

Conversations with the New Charismatic Churches

As a result of the conversations, representatives of the New Charismatic Churches have finalized a paper concerning the ecclesial nature and identity of the NCCs. The importance of such an achievement lies in the fact that it is the first attempt ever to put together a description of the NCCs ecclesiology, overcoming the “Non-Denominational” definition into a more positive and prepositive presentation. Their ecclesiological consistency is still a question even though they describe themselves as a missiological community. Their attitude towards Catholics and the Catholic Church continues to be very positive.

Pope Francis’ personal outreach to other Christians

In the last two years Pope Francis has continued to build relations with Pentecostals, Charismatics and Evangelicals. The Holy Father has had private conversations with Neo-Pentecostals, with the presence of Cardinal Koch, President of the PCPCU. The last encounter of the Holy Father has been with representatives of the Vineyard Ministries.

III. MULTILATERAL ECUMENISM

As well as bilateral relations, the Pontifical Council promotes multilateral ecumenism principally through the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva and the Global Christian Forum (GCF), whose permanent secretariat is based in Strasbourg, France. This type of ecumenism places the accent on practical cooperation rather than theological dialogue.

World Council of Churches (WCC)

While various commissions of the WCC cooperate with a range of Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the most important form of ongoing collaboration remains that undertaken by the Pontifical Council through various channels. Three Catholic representatives are on the Commission for World Mission and Evangelism (Sr. Mary John Kudiyiruppil, SSpS, of India, Father Stephen Bevans, SVD, of the United States, Father Richard Nnyombi, M.Afr of Uganda). An official of our Pontifical Council is a member of the Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation (Reverend Andrzej Choromanski). In 2015 the mandate of the Catholic professor at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland (Reverend Lawrence Iwuamadi) was renewed for a period of five years. Each year during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity a group of 40 students and faculty visit Rome for a study visit, organized and sponsored by our dicastery.

The last General Assembly of the WCC in Busan, South Korea, in November 2014, decided to interpret its mission and vision of unity in terms of a Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace (PJP). The choice of this theme and the projects to implement it testify to the fact that the WCC has increasingly sought to be involved in questions relating to the social sphere and to justice. Nonetheless, the WCC maintains that the PJP does not represent a new vision of the search for Christian unity, but a way of expressing its mission in a relevant way for contemporary society. Some Catholic representatives take part in various commissions and working groups related to this initiative, in particular the Reference Group (Reverend Andrzej Choromanski) and the Theological Study Group (Reverend Professor William Henn and Father Guido Dott, Bose Monastic Community).

Faith and Order

Collaboration with the Faith and Order Commission, which deals with doctrinal questions regarding the apostolic faith and the structure of the Church, as well as ethical and social themes which underlie the divergences and divisions among Christians, is a particularly important means of promoting full unity. Restructured after the Busan Assembly, the Commission currently comprises 50 members and consultors, including four Catholic theologians appointed by the Pontifical Council after consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Commission is engaged in the following study groups: 1. Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace in the world today; 2. Ecclesiology: towards a common vision of the Church; 3. Moral discernment in the Churches.

In 2013, the Commission published an important convergence text on ecclesiology entitled “The Church: Towards a Common Vision”. The text is the result of many years of study by theologians from nearly all the Christian traditions, including a significant contribution by the Catholic Church. Our Pontifical Council is now preparing the official Catholic response to the text. A range of theologians, theological faculties and episcopal conferences from around the world have already submitted their comments, which will be evaluated by a commission of experts appointed by our Pontifical Council. This commission will draft a final text which, upon the approval of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will be sent to the Faith and Order Commission as the official Catholic response to the document. It is envisaged that this process will take about a year.

Commission members: 2014-2022:

Rev. Dr William Henn (Catholic Moderator), Rome; Prof. Dr Myriam Wijlens, Erfurt, Germania; Prof. Dr Krzysztof Mielcarek, Lublin, Poland; Prof. Dr David G. Kirchhoffer, Brisbane, Australia (from 2016; replaces Professor Janet E. Smith, who withdrew due to family reasons).

Joint Working Group (JWG)

Collaboration between the WCC and the Catholic Church takes place principally through the Joint Working Group (JWG). Following the agreement between the President of the PCPCU and the Secretary General of the WCC, there are currently 20 members, ten appointed by the PCPCU and ten by the WCC. The tenth phase of JWG’s work commenced in 2015 and will conclude after the next WCC Assembly scheduled for 2020. During its current mandate the JWG will concentrate on practical collaboration rather than systematic theological study. Its first plenary took place in June 2015 in conjunction with an event organized by the Centro Pro Unione to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the JWG in 1965. The event was attended by the JWG moderators and ex–moderators, many of its members, as well as the Secretary General of the WCC, Reverend Dr Olav Fykse Tveit. Pope Francis addressed a message to the participants. The second plenary meeting took place in September 2016 in Geneva. Two themes have been selected for study in the first half of this phase: 1. The role of religions in promoting peace in violent situations; 2. The ecumenical challenges and opportunities relating to migrants and refugees. Two working groups, including external experts, have been established to study the selected themes. At the end of the current mandate, each group will draft a pastoral thematic document to be made available to local Churches.

Commission members 2014-2022:

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Dublin, (Co‑Moderator) Dublin, Ireland; Monsignor John Crossin, OSFS, Washington, United States; Professor Dr Annemarie Mayer, Leuven, Belgium; Bishop Rodolfo Valenzuela Nunez, Vera Paz, Guatemala; Dr Professor Teresa Francesca Rossi, Rome; Monsignor Robinson Wijesinghe, PCPMI; Monsignor Indunil Janakarante Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, PCDI; Bishop Brian Farrell, PCPCU; Monsisgnor Juan F. Usma Gómez, PCPCU; Reverend Andrzej Choromanski, PCPCU.

Global Christian Forum (GCF)

The GCF made its appearance at the end of the 20th century, presenting itself as a neutral space – a forum – for ecumenical encounter between the historical churches (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant churches of the Reformation) and the more recent Christian communities such as the Evangelicals, Pentecostals and Charismatics. The initiatives promoted by the GCF enable a worldwide exchange on themes which are relevant for all Christians. There has been increasing collaboration between the PCPCU and the GCF which is being deepened through a range of projects. An historical consultation gathering about 200 Christian leaders from around the world was held in Tirana, Albania, in November 2015 on the theme “Discrimination, Persecution, Martyrdom: Following Christ Together”. A Catholic delegation of 25 people (led by the President of our Pontifical Council and comprising representatives of communities, churches and organizations directly affected by persecution) took part in the event.

A theological working group has been recently established to deepen the theological dimension of the GCF’s experience. The PCPCU has appointed Reverend Lawrence Iwuamadi (Catholic Professor at Bossey) as the representative of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church also took part in the most recent initiative of the GCF on “Call to Mission and Perceptions of Proselytism. A Global Conversation”. The working group met in Rome in October 2016. A consultation of experts is being organized for 2017 and the drafting of a document on the theme will include the contribution of Catholic experts appointed by the Pontifical Council. Reverend Andrzej Choromanski, official of the PCPCU, is a member of the international committee of the GCF which meets annually to plan and oversee the work of the Forum.

2016 PLENARY ASSEMBLY REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE PCPCU