Publication of the document “The Bishop of Rome”

On Thursday 13 June, a new document of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU) has been published, entitled “The Bishop of Rome. Primacy and synodality in ecumenical dialogues and responses to the encyclical Ut unum sint".

“The Bishop of Rome” is a study document, published with the approval of Pope Francis, summarising for the first time the responses to the encyclical Ut unum sint and the ecumenical dialogues on the question of primacy and synodality. The document concludes with a proposal from the Dicastery that identifies the most significant suggestions put forward for a renewed exercise of the Bishop of Rome's ministry of unity ‘recognised by all concerned’.

A press conference was held at 11:30 a.m., at the Holy See Press Office, with interventions by Cardinal Kurt Koch [FR], Prefect of the DPCU, Cardinal Mario Grech [IT], Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin to the Holy See Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin (online), and Archbishop Ian Ernest, Personal Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See (online).

The Press Conference was live streamed on the Vatican News Youtube channel.

On the same day, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., a theological and ecumenical presentation of the document was held at the Angelicum Institute for Ecumenical Studies (Largo Angelicum 1 - Aula 11). Speakers (in English): Revd Anthony Currer, Prof. Hyacinthe Destivelle OP, Prof. Juan Usma Gómez; with comments from Prof. James Hawkey (Anglican Communion) and Prof. Dimitrios Keramidas (Orthodox Church). Moderator: Prof. Teresa Francesca Rossi.

The presentation is available on the Angelicum's YouTube channel.