Russian prelate praises Pope Benedict for recognizing ecumenical obstacles
December 16, 2009
In a public statement marked by its ambiguity, the chief ecumenical officer of the Patriarchate of Moscow has praised Pope Benedict XVI for not pushing to arrange a “summit meeting” with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill.
In an interview with the German journal Der Spiegel, Archbishop Hilarion said that the Roman Pontiff “understands the existing difficulties” that trouble relations between Moscow and Rome. The Russian prelate suggested that the late Pope John Paul II did not adequately understand those problems, and was unduly anxious to set up a summit that might have been “just a protocol meeting and handshakes between TV cameras.”
The Russian Orthodox Church wants more results from a meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch, the archbishop said. “We want a breakthrough in our relations.” He then proceeded to list the familiar conditions that the Moscow patriarchate has set for a summit meeting: an end to Catholic “proselytism” in Russia and Eastern Europe, and a resolution of tensions between the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic communities in Ukraine.
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Posted by: -
Dec. 17, 2009 2:51 PM ET USA
BYZANTINE OR EASTERN RITE CATHOLIC UKRAINIANS REALLY BUG THE HELL OUT OF MOSCOW, SO MOSCOW SHOULD BASICALLY BE IGNORED DURING THE PRESENT TIME. OF COURSE BENEDICT XVI KNOWS THIS, UNLIKE PAUL VI, SO THINGS SHOULD MOVE SLOWLY AS IT DOES NOT BEHOOVE A POPE TO ALLOW PRESSURE TO BE EXCERTED ON ROME.
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Posted by: John Chrysostom -
Dec. 16, 2009 8:33 PM ET USA
Archbishop Hilarion says that "Greek Catholics in western Ukraine 'seized hundreds of Orthodox churches, and thousands of Orthodox believers were actually thrown out into the street.'" That is simply not true. The churches in question were confiscated by the Soviet Communists in 1946 and given to the Moscow Patriarchate, which kept them until 1996 and later when the parishioners voted to re-unite with Rome. They were Greek Catholic to begin with, and simply returned to being Greek Catholic.
