From the WCC 11th General Assembly held in Karlsruhe, Germany
Cardinal Kurt Koch: Churches’ Unity Requires the Holy Spirit’s Work and Prayer
The Model of the Ecumenical Movement in the Middle East Must Be Produced Around the World and thanks to MECC
Photo: Albin Hillert/ World Council of Churches
Interview by Huguette Salameh, Karlsruhe – Germany
The Eleventh General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was held in Karlsruhe, Germany, between 31 August and 8 September. An Assembly which gathered about 352 Churches from the four corners of the world and included various Evangelical, Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran and Baptist Churches... All these Churches were present except the Catholic Churches, which are unified in the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, presided over by the Pope of Rome.
Coming from the Middle East to Karlsruhe and working in the Middle East Council of Churches, we had many questions and challenges amidst hopes. In fact, we tried to stress the role and position of the Middle East in this historical Assembly. But we also, tried to find answers for an important inquiry; Why is the Catholic Church absent from the WCC? Where are we now from the unity of Churches and the unification of their voices, just as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one?
Nevertheless, the bewilderment does not last long after you discover among the crowds a scarlet catholic garb and cap, and it becomes clear to you as you get closer that he is Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity attending the Assembly, alongside a delegation among spiritual and lay officials involved in the Ecumenical work, from all over the world. They were participating as guests and observers.
Following a morning plenary on the Russian – Ukrainian war and the humanitarian assistance, we met Cardinal Koch. We started our discussion with the situation in Ukraine, and then tackled other issues related to the Middle East and Lebanon which is still waiting the promised visit of His Holiness Pope Francis.
Your Eminence, what is your opinion concerning the session on the Russian - Ukrainian war and the catastrophic humanitarian situation there? What is the position of the Vatican on the latest developments in this war?
Today, Europe is concerned with the war of Russia in Ukraine. The Russian - Ukrainian plenary was very important. It was interesting to listen to the Churches and to be informed on the implementation of humanitarian activities, in addition to the situation of refugees and migrants. The circumstances are very difficult and the Catholic Church is contributing to the provision of emergency aid. As well as, the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine is very engaged in humanitarian activities.
At the Vatican, it is clear that we are very concerned with the war in Ukraine and we are coordinating with the Catholic Church there, as well as, with the Latin and Greek Catholic Churches. We are working to help, and also we are concerned with the situation of the migrants and refugees in all Europe.
During the opening plenary, you delivered a message from Pope Francis to the participants. His Holiness stressed the historical relationship between the Vatican and the World Council of Churches. He also mentioned that a delegation from the Vatican participated in the WCC third General Assembly in New Delhi in 1961. Here comes the question: Why is the Catholic Church not a member in the WCC?
I think there are two reasons. First of all, it is a theological, ecclesiological reason, because all the WCC member Churches are represented nationally or continentally. The Catholic Church is a universal Church of all, in all over the world, same Church, and thus we have a very different ecclesiology. But we have a good collaboration between our Church and the WCC, without being a member.
On the other side, it is an organizational practical aspect. If the Catholic Church is a member of the WCC, it will have almost a majority among other Churches, and it will be a very difficult situation. I think it is better, for both sides, to have a mutual collaboration and not membership. Nevertheless, we are members in different fields, such as the Faith and Order Commission, the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, the Season of Creation.
But in the East, the Catholic Church is among the four families that constitutes the Middle East Council of Churches!
It's not only in the Middle East. I think in every country we have interactive collaboration groups. The Catholic Church is a member of many regional groups. This is a different situation comparing to our case with the WCC which is on the universal level. At the local and regional levels, we have good collaborations and the work of the Catholic Church in the Middle East Council of Churches is very interesting. So we can strengthen cooperation on the local and regional levels and not on the universal one.
During a meeting at the General Assembly, you mentioned that Christians’ unity can only be achieved by the work of the Holy Spirit and Prayer. Today, unity is becoming urgent amidst the fragmentation of Churches, which is threatening the Christians’ presence in many parts of the world. Do you think that unity can be achieved today?
It is very good to have effective collaborations and we have to promote unity in our different Churches. But most importantly is that the situation is not pragmatic, but theological. The unity must be through faith, which means that we share the same faith between the different Churches, and this is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Throughout history, we notice that humankind can make divisions. In fact, we cannot, as humans, achieve alone unity, because it is always a gift and blessing of the Holy Spirit. The most important preparation to receive this gift is praying for Christian unity.
Diversity is not a weakness in itself. We must have answers for the following main questions: Why do we need unity? and how is diversity a richness? Diversity is not an obstacle. In the light of richness in all this diversity and plurality, we must work to promote unity.
As you know, and as it is being highlighted during the Assembly, the Christian presence in the Middle East and the Holy Land is threatened and endangered. How are you supporting Christians in the region and are there any plans to help Christians face their challenges in the future?
The Middle East and the Holy Land are not made of stones but of people, and that’s why Christianity is threatened. We have the responsibility to help the Middle East so that its people and Christians can live peacefully. Many Patriarchs asked me to reduce the Christians’ entry to Europe, because what is needed is help, so they can live in their land and overcome the difficult circumstances, without facilitating their uprooting.
I think that help should be on a regional level so Christians can live in dignity, and thus we must support them to overcome all their challenges in the Middle East. It is very important to shed light on these difficult situations. Within this context, Pope Francis launched an initiative in Bali in 2018, to inform all the world about the difficult circumstances that Christians in the Middle East are witnessing.
On the Ecumenical level, what is your message to the Middle East?
The Middle East is a very beautiful experience of living together. In the Middle East, we have many different Churches, and many denominations. For me, it's very important to see how can we live together in the same society. We can give a common witness about the Christian faith and how we can collaborate together. We have many challenges and it’s important to find unity in all this diversity. In this context, the Middle East is a very interesting example and role model for the ecumenical movement worldwide. I hope that the Middle East Council of Churches encourages us to strengthen the ecumenical movement. I'm very grateful for what MECC is doing.
Finally, and in your opinion, will His Holiness Pope Francis return to the Middle East and visit Lebanon soon, as he already promised?
I can't predict the visit’s date, but it's certainly a need.