Joint Declaration by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
and Pope Francis
1.
Like our venerable predecessors Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch
Athenagoras who met here in Jerusalem fifty years ago, we too, Pope Francis and
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, were determined to meet in the Holy Land
"where our common Redeemer, Christ our Lord, lived, taught, died, rose
again, and ascended into Heaven, whence he sent the Holy Spirit on the infant
Church".[1] Our meeting, another encounter of the Bishops of the
Churches of Rome and Constantinople founded respectively by the two Brothers
the Apostles Peter and Andrew, is a source of profound spiritual joy for us. It
presents a providential occasion to reflect on the depth and the authenticity
of our existing bonds, themselves the fruit of a grace-filled journey on which
the Lord has guided us since that blessed day of fifty years ago.
2.
Our fraternal encounter today is a new and necessary step on the journey
towards the unity to which only the Holy Spirit can lead us, that of communion
in legitimate diversity. We call to mind with profound gratitude the steps that
the Lord has already enabled us to undertake. The embrace exchanged between
Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras here in Jerusalem, after many
centuries of silence, paved the way for a momentous gesture, the removal from
the memory and from the midst of the Church of the acts of mutual
excommunication in 1054. This was followed by an exchange of visits between the
respective Sees of Rome and Constantinople, by regular correspondence and,
later, by the decision announced by Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Dimitrios,
of blessed memory both, to initiate a theological dialogue of truth between
Catholics and Orthodox. Over these years, God, the source of all peace and
love, has taught us to regard one another as members of the same Christian
family, under one Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and to love one another, so
that we may confess our faith in the same Gospel of Christ, as received by the
Apostles and expressed and transmitted to us by the Ecumenical Councils and the
Church Fathers. While fully aware of not having reached the goal of full
communion, today we confirm our commitment to continue walking together towards
the unity for which Christ our Lord prayed to the Father so "that all may
be one" (Jn 17:21).
3.
Well aware that unity is manifested in love of God and love of neighbour, we
look forward in eager anticipation to the day in which we will finally partake
together in the Eucharistic banquet. As Christians, we are called to prepare to
receive this gift of Eucharistic communion, according to the teaching of Saint
Irenaeus of Lyon[2], through the confession of the one faith, persevering
prayer, inner conversion, renewal of life and fraternal dialogue. By achieving
this hoped for goal, we will manifest to the world the love of God by which we
are recognized as true disciples of Jesus Christ (cf. Jn 13:35).
4.
To this end, the theological dialogue undertaken by the Joint International
Commission offers a fundamental contribution to the search for full communion
among Catholics and Orthodox. Throughout the subsequent times of Popes John
Paul II and Benedict the XVI, and Patriarch Dimitrios, the progress of our
theological encounters has been substantial. Today we express heartfelt
appreciation for the achievements to date, as well as for the current
endeavours. This is no mere theoretical exercise, but an exercise in truth and
love that demands an ever deeper knowledge of each other's traditions in order
to understand them and to learn from them. Thus we affirm once again that the
theological dialogue does not seek a theological lowest common denominator on
which to reach a compromise, but is rather about deepening one's grasp of the
whole truth that Christ has given to his Church, a truth that we never cease to
understand better as we follow the Holy Spirit's promptings. Hence, we affirm
together that our faithfulness to the Lord demands fraternal encounter and true
dialogue. Such a common pursuit does not lead us away from the truth; rather,
through an exchange of gifts, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it will
lead us into all truth (cf. Jn 16:13).
5.
Yet even as we make this journey towards full communion we already have the
duty to offer common witness to the love of God for all people by working
together in the service of humanity, especially in defending the dignity of the
human person at every stage of life and the sanctity of family based on
marriage, in promoting peace and the common good, and in responding to the
suffering that continues to afflict our world. We acknowledge that
hunger, poverty, illiteracy, the inequitable distribution of resources must
constantly be addressed. It is our duty to seek to build together a just and
humane society in which no-one feels excluded or emarginated.
6.
It is our profound conviction that the future of the human family depends also
on how we safeguard – both prudently and compassionately, with justice and
fairness – the gift of creation that our Creator has entrusted to us.
Therefore, we acknowledge in repentance the wrongful mistreatment of our
planet, which is tantamount to sin before the eyes of God. We reaffirm our
responsibility and obligation to foster a sense of humility and moderation so
that all may feel the need to respect creation and to safeguard it with care.
Together, we pledge our commitment to raising awareness about the stewardship
of creation; we appeal to all people of goodwill to consider ways of living
less wastefully and more frugally, manifesting less greed and more generosity
for the protection of God's world and the benefit of His people.
7.
There is likewise an urgent need for effective and committed cooperation of
Christians in order to safeguard everywhere the right to express publicly one's
faith and to be treated fairly when promoting that which Christianity continues
to offer to contemporary society and culture. In this regard, we invite all
Christians to promote an authentic dialogue with Judaism, Islam and other
religious traditions. Indifference and mutual ignorance can only lead to
mistrust and unfortunately even conflict.
8.
From this holy city of Jerusalem, we express our shared profound concern for
the situation of Christians in the Middle East and for their right to remain
full citizens of their homelands. In trust we turn to the almighty and merciful
God in a prayer for peace in the Holy Land and in the Middle East in general.
We especially pray for the Churches in Egypt, Syria, and Iraq, which have
suffered most grievously due to recent events. We encourage all parties
regardless of their religious convictions to continue to work for
reconciliation and for the just recognition of peoples' rights. We are
persuaded that it is not arms, but dialogue, pardon and reconciliation that are
the only possible means to achieve peace.
9.
In an historical context marked by violence, indifference and egoism, many men
and women today feel that they have lost their bearings. It is precisely
through our common witness to the good news of the Gospel that we may be able
to help the people of our time to rediscover the way that leads to truth,
justice and peace. United in our intentions, and recalling the example, fifty
years ago here in Jerusalem, of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, we
call upon all Christians, together with believers of every religious tradition
and all people of good will, to recognize the urgency of the hour that compels
us to seek the reconciliation and unity of the human family, while fully
respecting legitimate differences, for the good of all humanity and of future
generations.
10. In undertaking
this shared pilgrimage to the site where our one same Lord Jesus Christ was
crucified, buried and rose again, we humbly commend to the intercession of the
Most Holy and Ever Virgin Mary our future steps on the path towards the
fullness of unity, entrusting to God's infinite love the entire human family.
" May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be
gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!"(Num 6:25-26).
…………………………………………
[1] Common communiqué of Pope Paul VI and
Patriarch Athenagoras, published after their meeting of 6 January 1964.
[2] Against Heresies, IV, 18, 5 (PG 7, 1028)
[2] Against Heresies, IV, 18, 5 (PG 7, 1028)
