Meeting of Catholic Members of the Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Dialogue

On 20 and 21 January, the Catholic members of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches convened at the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

The meeting followed a recommendation from the 2024 plenary session of the dialogue, “that the 20th anniversary [of the Commission] may be an opportunity for an evaluation of its documents and a reflection on its methodology in order to see possible improvements for the next steps of the dialogue. For this purpose, family coordinating committees on both sides will be appointed and prepare draft suggestions, after consultation with their respective authorities. These suggestions will then be discussed by a Joint Coordinating committee”.

In line with these provisions, the Catholic members of the Commission prepared a report to be submitted to the Joint Coordinating Committee alongside the report of the Oriental Orthodox members.

Grateful for the journey already made, the Catholic members expressed their confidence that the common evaluation and reflection after twenty years will enable the Commission to enter into a new phase of dialogue with renewed vigour and motivation, guided by the Holy Spirit, “so that the world may believe” (John 17:21).  

The meeting was an opportunity to pay tribute to the recently departed Reverend Father Ron Roberson, CSP, a member of the commission since 2005.

Chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch, the meeting was attended by Archbishop Peter Marayati, Bishop Paul Rouhana, Bishop Lesanuchristos Matheos Semahun, Bishop Thomas Adly Zaky, Chorbishop John D. Faris, Professor Souraya Bechealany, Reverend Petros Berga, Reverend Father Jijimon Puthuveettilkalam, S.J., Professor Dietmar W. Winkler, and Reverend Father Hyacinthe Destivelle, O.P. (Secretary).