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Catholic World News News Feature

Pope should drop more titles, Orthodox leader says April 05, 2006

A Russian Orthodox leader has called upon Pope Benedict XVI to renounce the titles suggesting the universal authority of the Roman Pontiff, the Reuters news service reports.

“Only renouncing titles stressing the universal jurisdiction of the pope, and the ecclesiological doctrine hidden behind that, would be a real step on the path toward reconciliation between the Orthodox and Catholic churches,” said Bishop Hilarion of Vienna. He said that remaining papal titles, such as "Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church," are offensive to the Orthodox faithful, who do not recognize the Pope's authority over the Eastern churches.

The Orthodox bishop had earlier criticized Pope Benedict for dropping the title, "Patriarch of the West." Bishop Hilarion argued that if he no longer identified himself with the Church in the West, the Pope could be claiming further authority over the Eastern churches.

The Russian Orthodox hierarchy has frequently complained about the activities of the Catholic Church in countries that are traditionally Orthodox. Ironically, Bishop Hilarion presides over the Orthodox community in historically Catholic Austria.