2012 PLENARY ASSEMBLY
ACTIVITY REPORT NOVEMBER 2010-NOVEMBER 2012
Bishop Brian Farrell
1. Introduction
The importance attributed by Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI to the “new evangelization” calls our attention to the close relationship between ecumenism and evangelization. The fulfilment of the missionary mandate depends on the strength of the Church as the sacrament of unity of all mankind and, therefore, on the united testimony of Christians themselves. As the Holy Father wrote in the Motu Proprio Ubicumque et Semper, with which he established the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization: “At the root of all evangelization lies not a human plan of expansion, but rather the desire to share the inestimable gift that God has wished to give us, making us sharers in his own life”. Sharing this gift is constitutive of the reality of communion; division obstructs it. As long as Christians remain divided, mission cannot be accomplished in a credible way. Thus, the ecumenical task will always be of the highest priority in the new evangelization, in the same way that evangelization is always the ultimate aim of ecumenism: “that they may be one … that the world may believe” (cf. Jn 17:23).
However, the search for unity seems to be experiencing a certain tiredness. There seems to be less consensus than in the past about the meaning of unity and, consequently, about the aim of our ecumenical endeavours. There is uncertainty about the path to be undertaken. There is a new generation, which includes even priests and bishops, that has less enthusiasm for unity; this generation does not have first–hand experience of the grace of the Second Vatican Council and the change it ushered in with respect to our relations with other Christians. Furthermore, the leaders of all Churches and Ecclesial Communities are concerned about confessional identity in response to growing secularization. Faced with growing religious pluralism, leaders dedicate a lot of energy to interreligious dialogue, postponing the ecumenical pursuit to future better times.
In addition, recent developments within some Churches represent a problem for bilateral dialogues, insofar as they contradict previous declarations jointly agreed upon, or create serious difficulties in terms of Catholic doctrine or morality. The ensuing fragmentation leads to further divisions and the birth of new ecclesial communities, which further complicates the ecumenical panorama.
Yet there are also many encouraging signs. I would like to cite the example of the progress in relations which was clearly evident in the Day of Reflection, Dialogue and Prayer for Peace and Justice in the World held in Assisi on 27 October 2011. The event was attended by representatives of many other Churches and Ecclesial Communities, including the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and the Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania, as well as delegates from the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Moscow, Serbia, Romania and from the Orthodox Churches of Cyprus and Poland, together with representatives of the Armenian Church, the Assyrian Church, the Malankara Church and the Assyrian Church of the East. These dignitaries joined the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches, the General Director of the World Evangelical Alliance and many other representatives of world communions in expressing their shared concern for the future of humanity. Their shared voice in the service of peace and justice represents a visible achievement of the ecumenical movement.
Since our last Plenary held in November 2010, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has continued to promote communion between the Churches through a vast range of contacts, dialogues and studies. I will now mention some of them.
2. The Orthodox Churches
2.1 The theological dialogue with the Orthodox Churches
Recent developments in the theological dialogue between the Catholic and the Orthodox Churches have taken place within the context of the dialogue of life, exemplified by the exchange of delegations, cooperation in various fields, correspondence, etc. The growing visibility and work of the Orthodox Churches in the West has increased opportunities for understanding and cooperation.
The work of the Joint International Commission resumed in 2011 through its sub–commissions and its coordinating committee, with a view to overcoming the obstacles that had emerged during the plenary session in Vienna (2010) on the question of the role of the bishop of Rome in the communion of the Church during the first millennium. The Commission was unable to reach agreement on the text prepared by the two sub–commissions, which was considered by the Orthodox to be too historical and not theological enough. It was decided that a new draft would treat the theme of primacy in the context of synodality in a specifically theological perspective.
Following these decisions, a joint sub–commission met in Rethymno (Crete, Greece) from 13–17 June 2011. However, the preparation of a shared common text emerged as a particularly arduous undertaking. In order to avoid concluding the meeting without fulfilling the task entrusted to it, the sub–commission decided to use the Orthodox text as the basis for discussion, proposing significant amendments to widen its scope.
In this way, it was possible to prepare a text to submit to the joint coordinating committee, which met in Rome from 21–26 November 2011. The systematic–speculative approach of the draft document elicited serious reservations in some Catholic members. Furthermore, the fact that not all the Orthodox members recognised themselves in a document that was meant to represent the Orthodox position made it difficult for the Catholics to understand the point of view of their partners. Due to these difficulties, the coordinating committee was unable to complete its study of the draft document, and decided to schedule a further meeting in November 2012.
In addition to the complexity of the theme, it must also be borne in mind that there is a need for extensive reflection on the methodology being used, on the different way in which theology is understood in the East and West. While being well aware of these problems, when meeting representatives of the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches in Germany during his apostolic visit on 24 September 2011, there was a positive tone to Pope Benedict XVI’s words: “Among Christian Churches and communities, it is undoubtedly the Orthodox who are theologically closest to us; Catholics and Orthodox have maintained the same basic structure inherited from the ancient Church; in this sense we are all the early Church that is still present and new. And so we dare to hope, even if humanly speaking constantly new difficulties arise, that the day may still be not too far away when we may once again celebrate the Eucharist together.”
2.2 Relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate
The Ecumenical Patriarch His All Holiness Bartholomew I visited Rome twice during this period: firstly, on the occasion of the Day of Reflection, Dialogue and Prayer for Peace and Justice, which, as mentioned above, took place in Assisi on 27 October 2011; and secondly, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Year of Faith held on 11 October 2012, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. The exchange of delegations of the Holy See and the Ecumenical Patriarchate have continued over the last two years on the occasions of their respective feast days, on 29 June (the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, in Rome) and on 30 October (the feast of Saint Andrew, at the Phanar).
2.3 Relations with the Patriarchate of Moscow
Cardinal Kurt Koch visited Russia from 12–17 March 2011. Particular mention can be made of the meeting with His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and his meeting with Metropolitan Hilarion, President of the Department for External Church Affairs. Both sides recognized that the dialogue is progressing positively, despite some remaining difficulties. Meetings with the academic staff and students of the Theological Academy of Moscow and the Saint Tichon Orthodox University, as well as with doctoral students from Saints Cyril and Methodius, were also a constructive source of mutual understanding. Perspectives for future collaboration between Catholic and Orthodox institutions were also discussed. Cardinal Koch also met with Archbishop Paolo Pezzi and priests of the Catholic Diocese. Discussion focused on how to improve ecumenical relations. The official responsible for this section made four visits to Moscow and other cities in Russia in order to meet with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, and with staff members of the Department for External Church Relations, and to attend meetings with priests and religious in the four Catholic dioceses on the theme of relations between Catholics and Orthodox.
There were also a number of visits to Rome. Metropolitan Hilarion visited from 27–29 September 2011, meeting with the Holy Father Benedict XVI, as well as with Cardinal Bertone, Cardinal Koch and Cardinal Ravasi, and returned for the Synod in October 2012. On other occasions, Metropolitan Hilarion and Cardinal Koch met at events organised by third parties – at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) and the Convention in Würzburg (Germany), and the meeting for peace in Sarajevo (Bosnia Herzegovina).
With regard to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Moscow, the 1150th anniversary of the discovery by Saints Cyril and Methodius of the relics of Pope Saint Clement in the Crimea was commemorated in a meeting held in Rome on 24 May. The commemoration was attended by Cardinal Koch and Archbishop Oleksandr (Drabinko), President of the Department for External Church Affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Divine Liturgy held in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to mark the anniversary offered a wonderful witness to the growing rapprochement between our communities. From 22–26 September 2012, the official responsible for this section visited Kyiv to attend an international conference and to meet with Metropolitan Volodymyr, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as other Orthodox and Catholic representatives.
Cardinal Koch visited Minsk, Belarus, from 11–16 November in response to the invitation of His Eminence Philaret, Metropolitan of Minsk and leader of the Orthodox Church in Belarus of the Patriarchate of Moscow. Cardinal Koch attended an international conference on the theme Catholic–Orthodox Dialogue: Christian Ethical Values as a Contribution to Social Life in Europe. The conference was organised by the Institute for Interreligious Dialogue and Interconfessional Communications of the Synod of the Belarus Orthodox Church in collaboration with the PCPCU. During his visit, Cardinal Koch celebrated Mass in the Catholic Cathedral and met with the Catholic bishops of Belarus to speak about the dialogue among Christians in Belarus.
2.4 Patriarchate of Serbia
The official responsible for this section visited Belgrade from 16–20 September 2011 and from 2–7 May 2012 to meet with Patriarch Irinej and other leading figures of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in Serbia. Many other meetings took place during 2011 with representatives of the Orthodox Churches in this region.
2.5 Church of Greece
On 20 September 2012 the Pontifical Council received a delegation from the Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, which is an organisation involved in pastoral, missionary and cultural work. Cooperation between the organisation and the Holy See will continue with a view to offering each other mutual support in various types of cultural initiatives.
3. The Oriental Orthodox Churches
3.1 International Commission for Theological Dialogue
The eighth plenary of the International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches was held at the end of January 2011 in Rome. The session was co–chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch and Metropolitan Bishoy of Damiette, Secretary General of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church. During the plenary, members continued their study of the communion existing between the Churches until the fifth century, and on the role of monasticism in this context. The study brought to light the considerable degree of communion among the local churches in the first centuries of the diffusion of Christianity in the Roman Empire and beyond, as far as Armenia, Persia, Ethiopia and India.
During the ninth plenary held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 17–21 January 2012, the members of the Commission deepened their study on communion and existing communication among the Churches until the mid–fifth century, as well as on the role of martyrdom and monasticism in the life of the early Church. A drafting committee met from 13–14 September 2012 to evaluate the studies presented for the current phase of dialogue with a view to preparing a draft to be presented during the 2013 session, during which the members will reflect on the theme The Saints as an Element in the Communion and Communication in the Early Church and on the theme The Process of Recognition/Canonization of Saints in History and Today.
3.2 Dialogue with the Malankara Churches
The Malankara Orthodox Church of India is divided into two: the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church (known as Jacobite), which is in full communion with the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, which aspires to full independence and national Indian identity. The Joint Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Syrian Orthodox Church of Malankar held its 14th meeting at the Patriarchal Centre of Puthencruz on 6 December 2011. The meeting was co–chaired by Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the PCPCU, and Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Theophilose. The main points on the agenda were the agreement on the shared use of sacred sites such as churches and cemeteries; the emergence of Pentecostal groups within the churches; the report on the project to translate prayers from the Syriac tradition into English and Malayalam.
The Joint Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church held its 21st meeting at the Sophia Centre in Kottayam on 7–8 December 2011. The meeting was co–chaired by Bishop Brian Farrell and Metropolitan Gabriel Mar Gregorios, President of the Department of Ecumenical Relations. Various issues were discussed, including the reception of the agreement on the shared use of sacred sites; the administration of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick for members of the other Church; monastic spirituality in the Indian context; the place of Saint Peter in liturgical texts, in Saint Ephrem and in James of Sarug.
3.3 Dialogue with the Assyrian Church of the East
The dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East has achieved many important results. On 11 November 1994, Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV signed a joint Christological declaration that opened new horizons for the theological dialogue and for pastoral cooperation. Subsequently, the Joint Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East have focused on sacramental theology, with a view to proceeding to a reflection on the constitution of the Church. The first phase concluded in 2004 with a wide consensus on sacramental issues, and the final document was presented to the respective authorities. However, difficulties arose in connection with the passage into the Catholic Church of one of the most active Assyrian bishops in the dialogue process. Discussions with a delegation of the Assyrian Church held at the beginning of October 2012 seem to have paved the way to a resumption of the dialogue.
3.4 Catholic Committee for Cultural Collaboration
Scholarships continue to represent the main part of the work of the Committee. The Committee granted 51 annual scholarships for the 2011–2012 academic year, and a further 28 students were granted partial subsidies to conclude their studies or to undertake language studies. The Committee has offered an annual scholarship to 45 students in the current academic year (2012–2013), with a further 30 students awarded a short–term scholarship. The programme of special projects with various Orthodox institutes also continues.
4. Dialogue with the Churches and Ecclesial Communities of the West
4.1 The Conference of Old Catholic Bishops of the Union of Utrecht
Archbishop Joris A.O.L. Vercammen led a delegation of the Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Union of Utrecht which visited the PCPCU in September 2011. Participants discussed the Report of the International Commission for Catholic–Old Catholic Dialogue on Church and Ecclesial Communion (2009). During the course of the meeting, it was decided that from 2012 the Dialogue Commission would strengthen the ecumenical consensus achieved to date, particularly with regard to the fundamental question of the relationship between the universal Church and the local Church. In this context, the understanding of the early Church that ‘there can be no eucharistic communion without ecclesial communion” needs to be further studied, particularly in relation to the agreement reached in 1985 between the Old Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church of Germany on the “mutual invitation to celebrate the Eucharist” and also with regard to the fact that Old Catholics and Anglicans have full communion. As well, discussion needs to look at the Marian dogmas and the new differences regarding the ordination of women. The first meeting took place from 3–6 December 2012 at Paderborn with the Co–Presidents of the new second phase of dialogue, Archbishop Hans–Josef Becker of Paderborn, and Dr Matthias Ring, Old Catholic Bishop in Germany.
In May 2012, the new Bishop of the North Catholic Church (CCN), Bishop Roald Nikolai Flemestad (former pastor of the Lutheran Church in Norway) visited the PCPCU, together with Archbishop Antony A. Mikovsky, Primate of the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) in the United States, together with a small delegation. The North Catholic Church was established in Norway in 2000 under the auspices of the PNCC, and is part of the Old Catholic Union of Scranton, which separated from the Union of Utrecht in 2009 over the decision of some churches of the latter to accept women’s ordination and the blessing of homosexual couples. In the meantime, the CCN has opened small centres in England and Germany. The CNN holds the view that the northern Lutheran Churches no longer have either the ecclesiology nor the institutional structure of a Church, and are thus unable to renew themselves or to reshape themselves as a spiritual institution like the Catholic Church, which according to the CNN possesses the characteristics of true catholicity, while being too legalistic by attributing not only primacy but an exclusive superiority to the Pope.
These developments and events testify to the growing tendency towards fragmentation within the bodies of the ecumenical partners of the Catholic Church. The newly formed ecclesial entities aspire to presenting themselves on the international level as the ecumenical interlocutors of the PCPCU. In such situations, the PCPCU usually recommends that such groups approach the local Catholic Bishops’ Conference for an initial ecumenical contact.
4.2 Relations with the Anglican Communion
Worldwide Anglicanism continues to be marked by the consequences of the serious tensions and divisions within the communion. At the meeting of Anglican Primates in Dublin at the beginning of 2011, one third of the Primates refused to attend because of the presence of the Primate of the Episcopalian Church. While those dissenting members have asserted their adherence to the Communion, their continuing protest highlights the difficulty of the Anglican Communion in general, and the Archbishop of Canterbury in particular, to formulate an effective instrument for maintaining communion, given the Anglican model of decentralized authority. Archbishop Rowan has strongly promoted the Anglican Covenant as a way of “deepening the bonds of communion”. This document attempts to set forth the obligations of membership in the Anglican Communion and (more controversially) to suggest some limitation of participation in the Communion for those who ignore these obligations. Currently the Covenant is being considered by the Provinces of the Communion, but it is not clear whether it will win the acceptance of the majority. In March 2012 the Church of England voted to reject the Covenant. While this does not technically determine the end of the process of approval on the part of the Provinces, in practice it delivers a heavy blow to the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Only those Provinces which sign the Covenant will be able to represent the Anglican Communion on international ecumenical dialogues, but since those who do not sign the Covenant will still be considered to be in communion, the effect of the Covenant upon the Anglican – Roman Catholic dialogue is unclear. The future of the Covenant has been discussed by the Anglican Consultative Council, one of the principal instruments of the Communion, in November 2012.
In the Church of England, meanwhile, discussions continue about the way ahead regarding the ordination of women to the Episcopacy. While there is a large majority of dioceses in favour of this development, there is also a clear will for some provision to be made for those who cannot accept this policy. However, since opponents of the ordination of women bishops are unlikely to accept a solution whereby their bishop is delegated from another bishop (who may be a woman), and proponents are unhappy with any suggestion of an alternative diocesan structure, it is hard to see what solution can be envisaged. This issue was taken up at the General Synod which took place from 19–21 November 2012. Using a vague terminology, discussion focused on ‘respecting’ those who oppose the ordination of women to the Episcopacy, but in the end no compromise was found and the legal resolution was defeated.
The Anglican – Roman Catholic International Commission commenced its third phase of dialogue (ARCIC III) in May 2011 at the monastery of Bose, and held its second meeting in Hong Kong in May 2012. The Commission, under the co-chairmanship of Roman Catholic Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham and Anglican Archbishop David Moxon of Aotearoa New Zealand, began discussions on two highly related themes ‘The Church as Communion, local and universal’, and ‘How in communion the local and universal Church comes to discern right ethical teaching’. Both these topics are clearly of crucial concern to the Anglican Communion at this time. The Commission will also collate and present the documents of ARCIC II with commentaries for official comment by the Catholic Church and Anglican Communion.
Work also recommenced for IARCCUM, the International Anglican – Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission, an episcopal body aimed at promoting the reception of ARCIC. Its new phase of work, which is co–chaired by Bishop Donald Bolen of Saskatoon and Bishop David Hamid, the Anglican Auxiliary Bishop for Europe, is conducting a survey aimed at fostering an exchange of information, ideas and good practices in relation to the Anglican–Catholic dialogues undertaken both at the local and national levels.
Close relations with the Archbishop of Canterbury are maintained through contacts with Lambeth Palace and meetings with the representative of the Archbishop in Rome, Canon David Richardson, Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. The Archbishop visited Rome from 26–29 October 2011 to participate in the Day of Reflection, Dialogue and Prayer for Peace and Justice held in Assisi. On that occasion, he presented a speech on the role of religions in promoting peace in the world. During his stay in Rome, the Archbishop also visited various dicasteries of the Roman Curia, including the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, speaking about his intervention on 10 October 2012 in the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith. The Archbishop also visited Rome in March 2012 to take part in a conference in the church of Saint Gregory at the Celio (from which Saint Augustine was sent on the mission to spread the faith in England). During his visit he also attended the Vespers presided over by Pope Benedict XVI. In June 2012, Cardinal Koch visited Lambeth and Canterbury in order to gain a first–hand understanding of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, meeting with clergy and lay people belonging to a range of traditions within Anglicanism and taking part in Anglican liturgies in the Canterbury Cathedral. A dinner held in his honour was held at Lambeth Palace.
The Annual Informal Talks between the PCPCU and representatives of the worldwide Anglican Communion took place in November 2011 and November 2012. These talks enable a regular exchange on issues and views on a range of themes.
On 15 January 2011 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the faith published a decree (Anglicanorum Coetibus) that officially established the “Personal Ordinariate” in England and Wales for groups of Anglicans and their clergy wishing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. An Ordinariate for the United States and Canada was created at the beginning of 2012. The Ordinariate of the Southern Cross was created in Australia on 15 June 2012 under its own Ordinary.
Discussion on the Anglican heritage, which is a key concern within the Ordinariate, has been of interest to Anglicans themselves. In Rome, for example, the Anglican Centre organized a series of seminars on issues related to this heritage with a view to reflecting on the specifically Anglican contribution to the Catholic Church.
4.3 Relations with the World Methodist Council
The World Methodist Council, the governing body of the worldwide family of Methodist and Weslyan churches, takes place every five years, holding its last meeting in Durban, South Africa, in August 2011, to which the PCPCU sent a representative. The participation of 300 delegates ensured a wide variety of backgrounds, with a strong presence of Methodists from South Africa and South Korea. As Methodism is a world-wide tradition, one of the main questions considered by member churches was ‘Do we see ourselves as a federation of churches, or as a communion?’ Methodism has begun to engage with such issues with a view to providing a foundation to the union among its member Churches throughout the world.
At the conclusion of its ninth phase of dialogue in 2010, the International Methodist–Catholic Dialogue Commission issued two documents. The first entitled Together in Holiness sought to systematically gather the outcome of over 40 years of dialogue and was directly inspired by the methodology of Cardinal Walter Kaspers Harvesting the Fruits. The second document was the ninth report of the Commission entitled Encountering Christ the Savior, which examined the sacraments of baptism, eucharist and ministry in the light of the Paschal mystery. Both documents were presented to the respective authorities, that is the Catholic Church and the World Methodist Council, for their comments. The Commission commenced its tenth phase of dialogue in October 2012 on the theme Universal Call to Holiness. This theme builds on the ecclesiological work that the dialogue has previously done, as well as its studies on the Holy Spirit and discipleship. The topic aims also at encouraging further reflection on the implications of the association of the World Methodist Council with the Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification in 2006.
4.4 Relations with Lutherans
The members of the newly–elected Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) met in Geneva in June 2011 under the leadership of its President, Bishop Munib A. Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and its Secretary General, Reverend Martin Junge from Chile. The meeting took place within the framework of the strategy of the LWF for 2012–2017 under the theme With Passion for the Church and for the World. The meeting focused on the theme Discerning our Common Journey and was attended by a representative of the PCPCU. The meeting of the LWF in June 2012 in Bogotá, Colombia, on the theme Together for a Just, Peaceful and Reconciled World offered full liberty to member Churches to seek local solutions to questions relating to marriage, the family and sexuality, with a view to avoiding open conflict within the Federation.
At the same time, there is growing unease in churches in the southern hemisphere on the way questions relating to the family and sexuality are treated. For example, already in 2010 some conservative Lutherans from the United States separated from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), creating a new North American Lutheran Church known as the “North American Lutheran Church” (NALC). The underlying reason for this was the decision taken by ELCA in 2009 to permit the ordination of pastors living in homosexual relationships. During its visit to the PCPCU in September 2011, a delegation of the NALC guided by its new Bishop John D. Bradosky, was encouraged to contact the Bishops’ Conference of the United States with a view to establishing ecumenical relations at the regional level.
During a visit to the PCPCU and to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in February 2012, representatives from a range of conservative Lutheran groups from Germany, Scandinavia and the Baltic states, under the leadership of the Lutheran pastor Helmut Steinlein, President of the “Evangelisch-Katholische Gemeinschaft Augustana”, and Professor Peter P.J. Beyerhaus, Co–ordinator of the “Bund Apostolischer Bruderschaften”, inquired about the possibility of a collective union with the Catholic Church. As a first step, they were invited to make contact with local Catholic bishops. The groups are still too small and fragmented to take into consideration a dialogue at the international level.
The plenary of the International Lutheran–Roman Catholic Commission on Unity met in Helsinki in July 2011 and in Paderborn, Germany, in 2012. In 2011 the Commission was co–chaired by Bishop Gerhard Müller of Regensberg on the Catholic side, who was unable to continue his role in the meeting in 2012 due to his appointment as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Lutheran Co–President is Emeritus Bishop Eero Houvinen of Helsinki. The members of the Commission finalised the joint document prepared for the 2017 Reformation Anniversary entitled From Conflict to Communion: Lutheran–Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017. A working group yet to be established comprising members from the PCPCU and the LWF will make available texts and other elements for joint ecumenical prayer in 2017 on the themes examined in that document. The Commission will continue its work in the future on the theme Baptism and Growing Ecclesial Communion.
Responding to an invitation from the PCPCU and the LWF, a working group of exegetes and experts in systematic theology from the Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed and Methodist traditions held its final meeting in February 2011 in Lutherstadt Wittenberg (Germany). On the basis of the consensus reached in 1999 in the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, the group presented its final report on The Biblical Foundations of the Doctrine of Justification. An Ecumenical Follow–Up to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, which was published as a study document of the LWF in 2012 in both English and German.
During their meetings over the last two years, the longstanding ecumenical working group of Catholic and Lutheran theologians, presided on the Catholic side by Cardinal Karl Lehmann and the Lutheran side by Bishop Martin Hein, reflected on the theme Towards a Joint Declaration on the Lord’s Supper. The theologians concluded that without more intensive study – particularly in the exegetical, historical and theological fields – it will be impossible to arrive at a full theology of the Lord’s Supper based only on the outcomes of dialogues undertaken to date.
Consultations reached their end in 2010 between the Johann-Adam-Möhler Ecumenical Institute of Paderborn and the Lutherische Theologische Hochschule of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK) of Oberursel, Germany, which had sought to identify common fundamental points between the Catholic Church and confessional Lutheranism, as professed by the International Lutheran Council (ILC), to which the US Missouri Synod also belongs. In their final report the partners expressed the hope of starting an official international dialogue between the ILC and the PCPCU. The PCPCU, together with the President of the ILC, the Lutheran Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt of the SELK, has in the meantime considered the possibility of a similar series of theological consultations at the international level.
A new trilateral dialogue between Catholics, Lutherans and Mennonites on Baptism, Redemption, Church, Faith and Relationship between Church and State will take form with a plenary meeting of the new group in December 2012.
A delegation of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (“Gemeinschaft Evangelischer Kirchen in Europa”, GEKE – ex Leuenberg Church Fellowship), guided by its new President, Pastor Thomas Wipf, and Secretary General, Bishop Michael Bünker, visited the PCPCU in September 2011 with a view to requesting the commencement of a dialogue with the Catholic Church as proposed at the last VI Plenary Assembly of the GEKE (Budapest 2006). It was together agreed that a consultation would commence between the GEKE and the Catholic Church on the theme of ecclesiology, making reference to the ecclesiological foundations of the Protestant churches delineated in the Confessio Augustana VII and the document The Church of Jesus Christ (1994). The GEKE has already consulted with the Orthodox Churches and with the Anglican Communion on this theme. With the approval of the VII General Assembly of the GEKE held in Florence in September 2012, the new series of consultations will commence in February 2013 with a first meeting in Vienna.
Following a longstanding tradition, Pope Benedict XVI received an ecumenical delegation from Finland in a private audience in January both in 2011 and 2012 on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Henrik, patron saint of Finland. The groups were led by different Finnish Lutheran bishops and by the Catholic Bishop from the Diocese of Helsinki, Bishop Teemu Sippo, SCJ. The delegations also visited the PCPCU to discuss issues relating to the ecumenical situation in Finland. They also took part in an ecumenical celebration at Santa Maria sopra Minerva on 19 January, and in vespers in the church of the Brigidine sisters.
Senior representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (“Vereinigte Evangelisch-Luterische Kirche Deutschlands”, VELKD), led by Bishop Johannes Friedrich and Bishop Friedrich Weber, who are responsible within the VELKD for relations with the Catholic Church, visited the PCPCU for conversations. The delegation met with Pope Benedict XVI in a private audience on 24 January 2011. On the previous day, the delegation took part in an ecumenical ceremony held at Saint Paul Outside the Walls in which an olive tree was blessed and planted as part of the “Luther’s Garden” project in Wittenberg in view of the 2017 anniversary of the Reformation. The delegation also took part in Vespers presided over by Pope Benedict XVI at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
4.5 Relations with the Reformed
In 2011 the World Communion of Reformed Churches (established in 2010 from a merger between the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council) and the PCPCU commenced a new phase of international dialogue, the fourth between Catholics and Reformed. The previous three phases (held with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches) had published the following reports: The Presence of Christ in Church and World (1970–1977); Towards a Common Understanding of the Church (1984–1989); and The Church as Community of Common Witness to the Kingdom of God (1998–2005). The overall theme of the new phase of dialogue, which is scheduled to end in 2017, is Justification and Sacramentality: The Christian Community as an Agent for Justice. The co–presidents are Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend in Indiana (USA) and Reverend Dr Martha Moore–Keish of the Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia (USA), for the Lutheran side. The first meeting was held in Rome from 3–9 April 2011 on the theme Justification: Reformed and Roman Catholic Perspectives (Historically and Currently). It is hoped that this phase of international dialogue, which will build upon agreements already achieved, may assist in the discernment of whether the WCRC will affiliate with the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. The group met for a second round of conversations in Decatur, Georgia (USA) in April 2012 to reflect on Justification and Sacramentality: The Rites of the Church and the Ordering of the Sacraments and Rites.
4.6 Disciples of Christ (Christian Church)
A working group met in Toronto from 1–5 May 2011 to prepare a new phase of dialogue. The co–moderators of this phase will be Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay (USA) and Reverend Dr Newell Williams of the Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth. The beginning of the new series of conversations has been postponed for a year so that a prior meeting of the Executive Committee could be held in June 2012 to discuss the revisions suggested for the Final Report of the fourth phase and to reflect on the theme proposed for the fifth phase Formed and Transformed at the Table of the Lord: The Eucharist in the Church and for the World.
The Executive Committee met at the Brite Divinity School of the Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas, from 16–19 June 2012. The meeting fulfilled its objectives, namely: 1) to finalize the Report of the fifth phase on the basis of the observations of the PCPCU; 2) to decide upon the proposal for the fifth phase on the basis of the draft prepared at the meeting in May 2011; 3) to determine the dates and methodology for the first meeting in 2013. The fifth phase will commence in May 2013 in Kentucky (USA). The methodological approach and the themes have been identified, and dates proposed for the next three years. It is important to note that the members of the Executive Committee added to conclusion of the final draft, “We reaffirm that our goal remains the full visible unity of our two communions”.
4.7 Relations with Mennonite World Conference
The Mennonite World Conference 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. It represents 1,600,000 believers from 99 national Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches from 56 countries on six continents; more than 60% are African, Asian, or Latin American. The Lutheran World Federation, the Mennonite World Conference and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity are forming an international trilateral dialogue to consider the subject of baptism.
4.8 Relations with the Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance, which was founded in London in 1905, is a fellowship of 216 Baptist conventions and unions comprising a membership of more than 37 million baptized believers and a community of 105 million, a disparity explained by the fact that children are not included as they have not yet attained “believers’ baptism”. A first phase of international conversations took place from 1984–1988, resulting in a report entitled Summons to Witness to Christ in Today’s World. The second phase commenced in 2006 with conversations on The Word of God in the Life of the Church: Scripture, Tradition and Koinonia. The overall objective has been to identify common ground in biblical teaching, apostolic faith and practical Christian living, as well as to study areas that still deeply divide the two Christian traditions. Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, USA, and Reverend Dr Paul Fiddes, Professor of Systematic Theology in the University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK, co–chair these conversations on behalf of the Catholic Church and Baptist World Alliance respectively. The final round in the second phase concluded with a meeting in Oxford in December 2010. Participants focused on the preparation of the final report, which is currently being revised. The text will most likely be presented in 2012 to the parent bodies for approval.
4.9 Relations with the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army was founded in England in the mid–19th century as a mission movement for the poor. The Salvation Army operates in 121 countries. Its membership includes more than 17,000 active and more than 8,700 retired officers, over 1 million ‘soldiers’, around 100,000 other employees and more than 4.5 million volunteers. Members can be classified as Evangelical Christians who do not practice any sacraments. A series of informal ecumenical conversations between the Salvation Army and the Catholic Church has taken place since 2007. In 2011 conversations focused on Sanctification, and in 2012 on Mission.
4.10 Relations with Pentecostal, Evangelical and Charismatic Leaders
4.10.1 The International Catholic–Pentecostal dialogue
The first phase of Catholic–Pentecostal dialogue (1972–1977), with representatives of classical Pentecostalism, sought to clarify terminology and methodology in order to delineate the respective confessional identities. The second phase looked at more difficult themes before going on to the topic of ecclesiology (Perspectives on Koinonia, 1985–1989). Subsequent reflection centred on mission and related problems in the light of the call to Christian unity (Evangelization, Proselytism and Common Witness, 1990–1997). Discussion in the fifth phase focused on our shared biblical and patristic heritage on faith, conversion, discipleship, Christian experience, Christian formation and baptism in the Spirit ( (On Becoming a Christian, 1998-2006).
The sixth phase began in 2011 and looked at the theme Charisms in the Church, particularly on discernment and pastoral implications. The first session, which was co–chaired by Bishop Michael Michael Burbidge of Raleigh (USA) and Reverend Cecil M. Robeck of the Assemblies of God, sought to identify common ground between Catholics and Pentecostals on the theme of charisms. During the 2011 session, the dialogue members took part in a Pentecost liturgy in Saint Peter’s Basilica presided over by Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father greeted the Commission publicly during the general audience the following Wednesday. The second dialogue session, which took place in Helsinki (20 June–5 July 2012), focused on the theme of discernment.
4.10.2 Conversations with some leaders of the New Charismatic Churches (formerly Non–Denominational Pentecostals)
The third round of Preliminary Conversations between the PCPCU and some leaders of the New Charismatic Churches took place on 28–29 May 2012. The theme originally selected was Mission in Terms of Self–Identity and Self–Understanding, but the meeting focused principally on the way forward following the three rounds to date. The PCPCU accepted the proposal to hold another series of three Conversations starting from 2014.
4.10.3 Consultation between the PCPCU and the World Evangelical Alliance
The third series of consultations commenced in 2011. A five–year phase is envisaged. The first session was held in 2009 in São Paulo on the theme Dogmatic and Ethical Issues: Common Ground; the second session was held in Rome from 12–17 September 2011 on the theme Scripture and Tradition. The third meeting was held in Chicago from 14–18 October 2012 on the theme What do Catholics/Evangelicals Teach about Salvation and How Do Individuals come to Salvation?
5. Relations with the World Council of Churches (WCC)
Cardinal Koch made his first official visit to the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva from 8–9 May 2011 as new President of the PCPCU − where he affirmed the irreversible commitment of the Catholic Church to ecumenism and his aspiration to work closely with the WCC in the quest for the full and visible unity of Christians.
The WCC General Secretary, Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, together with other leading figures of the Christian world communions, participated in the Assisi Day of Prayer for Peace, upon the invitation of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. In the same spirit, an official Catholic delegation took part in the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation to mark the end of the Decade to Overcome Violence held in Kingston, Jamaica (17–25 May 2011). Shared participation in important ecumenical events is a visible sign of the commitment of the Catholic Church and the WCC to work in partnership in the service of unity. The PCPCU took part in the meeting from 27 September–1 October 2011 in preparation for the WCC’s Tenth General Assembly to be held in Busan from 30 October–8 November 2013.
Both the PCPCU and the WCC are aware that while the ecumenical spirit continues to spread, the differences between the churches continue to surface in new ways. The current challenge is to define a common sense of direction and to achievable intermediate goals, especially in specific areas of ecumenical life.
The plenary of the Joint Working Group (JWG) met in Malta (31 October–5 November 2011) to work on the draft of the Ninth Report, which was subsequently presented to the Central Committee of the WCC in September 2012. The study themes were: reception, spiritual ecumenism, the effect of migration on the churches, and the transmission of the faith to young people. The report highlights the crucial role of reception if ecumenism is to avoid being accused of elitism and irrelevance in the life of the faithful. Spiritual ecumenism – including prayer, shared bible study and the conversion of hearts to Christ our Lord – creates an atmosphere in which Christians together face their difficulties and doubts.
The Tenth Forum on Bilateral Dialogues held in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) from 8–14 March 2012 gathered at the request of the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions. The official theme was International Dialogues in Dialogue: Context and Reception, with a particular focus on the Church in the Global South, especially in Africa. The five–day programme was divided into three parts: panels (Christian Unity in Tanzania Today, African Theologians on Ecumenical Dialogues, North–Global South Relationships within Christian World Communions); reports of individual participants representing individual Christian World Communions on bilateral dialogues since 2008 (documents issued, projects undertaken, deadlines, participation of members from the Global South, meetings held in the Global South, main trends); and thematic summaries.
The fourth meeting of the Assembly Planning Committee met at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute (Switzerland) from 23–27 July 2012 to finalize details for the Tenth General Assembly to be held in Busan (Korea) from 30 October to 8 November 2013 on the theme God of Life, Lead us to Justice and Peace. The meeting was attended by 27 representatives of member Churches and ecumenical partners (Catholic Church, Pentecostals, Christian World Communions, World Evangelical Alliance).
The Central Committee of the WCC met at the Orthodox Academy of Crete from 28 August to 5 September 2012. The Central Committee of the WCC is the “main decision–making body” representing 349 member churches. The main point on the agenda was the preparation of the Tenth Assembly in Busan, which involved making any necessary changes to the statutes, finalizing public declarations, approving the work undertaken by the Assembly Planning Committee, and deciding on the programme for the Assembly.
5.1 Faith and Order
The WCC has defined Faith and Order as “Christianity’s most representative theological forum”. The Catholic Church has been a member of the Faith and Order Commission since 1968, with 12 of the 120 commission members (10%). There are three Catholic Commissioners on the 30 member Standing Commission (again 10%). The Standing Commission meets annually. In 2011 the Archdiocese of Milan generously hosted the meeting in Gazzada. The meeting held in June 2012 concludes the current mandate. A new Commission will be appointed to commence work after the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in 2013.
The three current study projects of Faith and Order are at different stages of completion. The first focuses on the study text entitled Nature and Mission of the Church. After a meeting of the Orthodox Churches in March 2011 to prepare a formal response to the text, the working group on ecclesiology, which met in Columbus, Ohio (USA), in March 2011, radically revised and shortened the document in the light of the comments of the Orthodox Churches and the reflections offered by members of the Commission for World Mission and Evangelism as well as members of the Standing Commission. The working group on ecclesiology met again in March 2012 to finalise the text, which was subsequently submitted for evaluation at the meeting of the Standing Commission in September 2012. A second study is dealing with Sources of Authority. The working group has presented a report on the outcomes of discussion, encouraging the churches and ecclesial communities to consider the ‘Early Teachers of the Church’ as sources of authority in Christian teaching in order to reach a clearer understanding of the ecclesiological foundations of the Church. A third study is looking at Moral Discernment in the Churches, utilizing a case–study approach examining individual situations and the ways in which communities reach their respective positions in the moral field.
5.2 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches jointly prepare the booklets for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The working group met in Bangalore, India, in 2011 to evaluate the texts for 2013 presented by an ecumenical group of Indian Christians. The group worked in 2012 with ecumenical representatives from Canada to prepare material for 2014.
6. Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews
From a theological point of view, Jews and Christians not only share a rich patrimony – as affirmed in Nostra aetate (no.4) – but on the basis of this shared heritage, they are in a position to promote common values in society, to safeguard human rights and to cooperate together in the social and humanitarian fields. A conference to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the dialogue between the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations took place in Paris from 27 February to 2 March 2011 in Paris, the venue of the very first meeting 40 years ago. The meeting was attended by 25 Catholics and 25 Jewish representatives from around the world, and discussed the theme Forty Years of Dialogue – Reflections and Future Perspectives. A joint statement was issued at the end of the meeting.
On 17 January each year, the Bishops’ Conferences of Italy, Poland, Austria and Holland organise the Day for Judaism (held in Switzerland on the second Sunday of Lent). The Day aims at raising awareness among Catholics of the Jewish roots of their faith and at promoting Jewish–Catholic dialogue. As in other years, the Secretary of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, Reverend Father Norbert Hofmann, SDB, published an article in L’Osservatore Romano. In 2012 this article was entitled Increasing Trust and Common Commitment to Peace. The Special Responsibility of Jews and Catholics, and made reference to the Commission’s initiative to encourage other bishops’ conferences to introduce the Day.
On 24 January 2011 the Secretary of the Commission attended a press conference at Palazzo Chigi to present two documents on the Shoah attesting to the fact that the seminary Seminario Lombardo and the convent Suore di Sion in Rome hid and saved Jews during the Shoah. The press conference took place within the context of an initiative of the Italian government to encourage the collection of historical material on the Shoah for a museum on the Holocaust.
On 23–24 March 2011, the Secretary of the Commission took part in the delegation of the Holy See to the OSCE Conference in Prague organised under the presidency of Lithuania on the theme Confronting Anti–Semitism in Public Discourse.
On 29–31 March 2011, a delegation of representatives of our Commission and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel met to discuss the theme Challenges of Faith and Religious Leadership in Secular Society. A joint declaration was issued at the conclusion of proceedings. The Catholic delegation was led by Cardinal Jorge Mejía, while the Jewish delegation was led by the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, Shear Yashuv Cohen.
The Secretary of the Commission attended the annual meeting of the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) held in Kraków from 1–7 July 2011 on the theme Religions and Ideologies – Polish Perspectives and Beyond.
From 23–25 October 2011, the Secretary took part in a conference organised by the Institut für Jüdisch–Christliche Forschung of the Theology Faculty of the University of Lucerne (Switzerland) on the theme Das Studium des Judentums und die jüdisch–Christliche Begegnung. The Secretary presented the paper of Cardinal Kurt Koch on Gemeinsam Volk Gottes sein Perspektiven des jüdisch–katholischen Dialogs von Nostra aetate bis Papst Benedikt XVI.
A delegation comprising nine Jewish leaders from the United States, Israel and European countries took part in the interreligious Day of Reflection, Dialogue and Prayer for Peace and Justice in the World held in Assisi on 27–October 2011.
From 29 October–5 November 2011, Cardinal Koch and the Secretary of the Commission made a visit to the United States to meet with the Jewish community and to gain greater insight into the Jewish–Catholic dialogue in the local context. Cardinal Koch held a conference at Seton Hall University (New Jersey) on the theme Theological Questions and Perspectives in Jewish–Catholic Dialogue (John M. Oesterreicher Memorial Lecture). The conference was organised by the Institute of Judaeo–Christian Studies of the University and the Council of Centers on Jewish–Christian relations. Cardinal Koch also visited the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, meeting with representatives of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC). His Eminence held a conference on Fundamental Aspects of Ecumenism and Future Perspectives at the Catholic University of America in Washington.
From 9–10 November 2011, the Israeli Religious Council, comprising the religious leaders of the State of Israel (including Jews, Muslims, Druze, and Christians from a range of traditions), was received in a private audience with the Holy Father. The delegation of 25 members also met with Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, with representatives of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and with the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews.
On 12 December 2011 the Holy Father received Lord Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, in a private audience. Lord Sacks also held a conference at the Gregorian Pontifical University on Has Europe Lost its Soul? The conference was a public event organised by the Cardinal Bea Centre for Judaic Studies at the Gregorian, and was attended by Cardinal Koch and the Secretary of the Commission.
On 27–29 March 2012, the eleventh dialogue meeting between the delegations of our Commission and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel was held on the theme Religious Perspectives on the Current Financial Crisis: Vision for a Just Economic Order. The meeting took place in an atmosphere of deep friendship and mutual understanding regarding our respective traditions. A joint declaration was issued at the conclusion of the meeting. The Catholic delegation was led by Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, and the Jewish by the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, Shear Yashuv Cohen.
On 18 April 2012, the Secretary held a conference in Fribourg (Switzerland) on “Die Einzigartigkeit des jüdisch-christlichen Dialogs und dessen Grundkonstanten” (The Uniqueness of Jewish–Christian Dialogue and Its Fundamental Constants). The German–speaking students of the Theology Faculty invited him to take part in the “Interdisciplinary Week”.
On 10 May 2012, for the first time in the history of Jewish–Catholic dialogue, the Holy Father received a delegation from the Latin American Jewish Congress comprising Jews from Latin America, mainly from Brazil and Argentina. A dinner with representatives of the Holy See and the Jewish community of Rome was organized on the previous evening.
On 16 May 2012, Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Commission, held a “lectio coram publico” at the Saint Thomas Pontifical University (Angelicum) in Rome on the theme Building on Nostra aetate: 50 Years of Christian-Jewish Dialogue.
From 22–27 May 2012, the Cardinal President and Secretary of the Commission travelled to Israel for a range of encounters and visits. The Cardinal held a public conference on the situation of Jewish–Catholic dialogue, presenting a paper on Christians Called to be Faithful to Abraham’s Heritage at the Israel Jewish Council for Interreligious Relations (IJCIR). A private meeting with leading figures in interreligious dialogue in Israel was held before this event. The Cardinal was accompanied by Rabbi David Rosen on a visit to the Chief Rabbinate to speak with the Chief Rabbi Jonah Metzger and with Oded Wiener, the Secretary General. During his stay in Jerusalem, the Cardinal also met with Catholic Bishops, the ordinaries of the Holy Land, and with the heads of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities; an official encounter was held at the Notre Dame Centre followed by a reception). He also visited the Custos Terrae Sanctae, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, as well as the Latin Patriarch, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, His Beatitude Theophilos III. Lastly, the Cardinal visited Galilee to meet with Bishop Giacinto Marcuzzo in Nazareth and Archbishop Elia Chacour in Haifa.
From 17–21 June 2012, at the Isabella Freeman Jewish Retreat Center near New York, the second meeting of the Catholic–Jewish Emerging Leadership Conference was held on the theme Catholics and Jews: Our Common Values, Our Common Roots. About 50 Jewish and Catholics youths, aged between 20–30 years, met with the aim of becoming more familiar with one another and of re–discovering more deeply their distinctive religious identities through an understanding of each other’s traditions. The conference was organized by the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC) and by the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews. The aim of the conference was to provide a background to young people who will actively become involved in future Jewish–Catholic dialogue.
From 5–18 August 2012, the Secretary of the Commission took part in a “Sommerakademie” (Summer Academy) of the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes” in Ftan (Switzerland), organizing a workshop for students on the theme “Dialog der Religionen. Grundlagen, Möglichkeiten und Ansätze aus theologischer und bildungswissenschaftlicher Sicht” (Dialogue of the Religions. Foundations, Possibilities, and Objectives from a Theological and Educational Point of View).
From 28–30 October 2012 the third Plenary of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews took place with the participation of 8 consultors and 18 representatives of some Bishops’ Conferences. The meeting enabled a useful exchange of information and experiences. Discussion included the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Nostra aetate in 2015, and the possibility of introducing a Day for Judaism at the level of individual Bishops’ Conferences (such as that already undertaken by the Bishops’ Conferences of Italy, Austria, Netherlands and Switzerland).