His Holiness Pope Francis calls for dialogue of life with Oriental Orthodox Churches

His Holiness Pope Francis meets with members of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and Oriental Orthodox Churches.

By Lisa Zengarini

His Holiness Pope Francis, on Thursday 23 June 2022, received in audience the members of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

In his address, the Pope thanked the Commission for its precious work which has allowed substantial progress in the dialogue process towards a full communion.

He greeted, in particular, its latest achievements  in the discussion on the Sacraments which, he said, "could mark a new step forward" towards this goal.

Ecumenism is essentially baptismal

In this regard, Pope Francis shared his reflections on three points. The first point he highlighted is that ecumenism is essentially baptismal: “It is in baptism that we find the basis of the communion between Christians and our yearning for full visible unity.”, His Holiness Pope Francis said.

Deepening pastoral ecumenism

In the second place, His Holiness Pope Francis remarked that the broad consensus reached by the Commission not only on Baptism, but also on the other Sacraments, should encourage Catholic and Oriental Orthodox Churches to deepen pastoral ecumenism.

Noting that many pastoral agreements have already been signed over the past decades with some Eastern Orthodox Churches, which allow the faithful to participate in the Sacraments, even without being in full communion, Pope Francis expressed hope that the Holy Spirit may inspire 2ways of moving forward on this path, which regards the good of the people of God".

Ecumenism of life

The Pope went on to highlight that ecumenism already exists as a primarily local reality, not only in the Middle East, but also in Western countries where Christians from this  region  have emigrated , in the form of “ecumenism of life”.

“Many of the faithful – I think above all of those in the Middle East, but also of those who have emigrated to the West – already experience the ecumenism of life in the midst of their families, their work and their daily encounters. Frequently they also experience together the ecumenism of suffering in bearing common witness to the name of Christ, at times even at the cost of their lives.”…

This report was originally published on Vatican News website. Please click here to read the full text.