杏MAP导航

By Sergio Centofanti

Saint John Paul II鈥檚 encyclical - on ecumenical commitment - was published on 25 May 1995. Twenty-five years later, it maintains its relevance and its prophetic character.

With a forward-looking gaze, it indicates a goal that still seems far off: the unity of Christians. It is the desire of Jesus Himself who, before His Passion, prayed to the Father that His disciples might be one.

The 杏MAP导航 of unity

杏MAP导航 John Paul II felt personally felt Jesus' ardent desire and made it his own. Ecumenism became one of the priorities of his Pontificate, because the division of Christians is a scandal that affects the Jesus鈥� work.

鈥淭o believe in Christ,鈥� John Paul writes, 鈥渕eans to desire unity鈥�. It is an act of obedience that broadens the horizons of the heart and mind. But it was precisely the 杏MAP导航 of unity who suffered the great pain of schism. Some among the brothers and sisters did not understand this forward momentum.

The document came just seven years after the illegitimate episcopal ordination conferred by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, which in 1988 formalized his break with Rome.

Accused of relativism

The French traditionalist prelate accused the Polish 杏MAP导航 and the Second Vatican Council of what he called 鈥渇alse ecumenism鈥�, saying they destroyed the true faith and led 鈥渢he Church into ruin and Catholics into apostasy". Lefebvre claimed that Providence had entrusted him with the mission of opposing 鈥渕odern Rome, infested with modernism鈥�, so that 鈥淩ome may become Catholic again and rediscover its two thousand year old Tradition鈥�.

In his view, a 鈥淧rotestant conception鈥� of the Mass and the Sacraments had been introduced.

Lefebvre died in 1991. His disciples attacked the Encyclical of John Paul II because, they said, it not only leads to 鈥渄ogmatic relativism鈥�, but de facto contained it. This was a position based on 鈥渁n incomplete and contradictory notion of Tradition鈥�, as John Paul had already said in the Apostolic Letter : incomplete. The 杏MAP导航 says this notion does not consider that Tradition is alive and growing as it is handed down from generation to generation, without it being fixed at a predetermined historical date; and contradictory, because Tradition can never be separated from communion with the 杏MAP导航 and with pastors throughout the world.

Dialogue: a priority that allows unexpected discoveries

The Encyclical looks forward with courage. It indicates dialogue as a priority and as a necessary step toward discovering the riches of others. It reviews all the steps taken towards unity with the various Churches and Christian communities, beginning with the mutual lifting of the excommunications between Rome and Constantinople, and the common Christological Declarations with the ancient Churches of the East.

It outlines a path forward that allows 鈥渦nexpected possibilities鈥� in the awareness that 鈥渓egitimate diversity is in no way opposed to the Church's unity鈥�. 鈥淚ntolerant polemics and controversies鈥�, the text reads, 鈥渉ave made incompatible assertions out of what was really the result of two different ways of looking at the same reality鈥�.

It is a path that can help us 鈥渄iscover the unfathomable riches of the truth鈥� and the presence of elements of sanctification 鈥渂eyond the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church鈥�.

The expression of truth can take different forms

John Paul II explains that ecumenism is not a matter of 鈥渁ltering the deposit of faith鈥� and 鈥渃hanging the meaning of dogmas鈥�.

Rather, 鈥渢he expression of truth can take different forms鈥� because 鈥渄octrine needs to be presented in a way that makes it understandable to those for whom God himself intends it鈥�, in whatever culture they belong to, avoiding any form of 鈥渆thnic exclusivism or racial prejudice, and from any nationalistic arrogance鈥�.

A dialogue of doctrine that is also a dialogue of love

The Encyclical indicates the need for a 鈥渕anner and method of expounding the Catholic faith鈥� that is not 鈥渁 hindrance to dialogue with our brothers and sisters鈥�, acknowledging that there is 鈥渁 hierarchy in the truths鈥� in Catholic teaching.

The Church, John Paul says, is summoned by Christ to 鈥渃ontinual reform鈥�, which 鈥渕ight require a review of assertions and attitudes鈥�. Dialogue, he says, 鈥渄oes not extend exclusively to matters of doctrine but engages the whole person鈥� because 鈥渋t is also a dialogue of love鈥�. It is from love that 鈥渢he desire for unity is born鈥�. It is a path that demands, 鈥減atient and courageous efforts. In this process, one must not impose any burden beyond that which is strictly necessary鈥�.

The primacy of prayer: converging on the essential

In ecumenism, the Polish 杏MAP导航 explains, pride of place belongs to common prayer. Christians, praying together, can discover that what unites them is much stronger than what divides them.

The liturgical renewal carried out by the Catholic Church and other ecclesial communities has allowed for convergences on what is essential, and together, more and more, they are able turn to the Father with one heart. 鈥淎t times it seems that we are closer to being able finally to seal this 鈥榬eal although not yet full鈥� communion鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 observes. 鈥淎 century ago who could even have imagined such a thing?鈥�

A common commitment to freedom, justice, peace

Among the steps forward on the path of ecumenism, the Encyclical points to the growing collaboration of Christians of various confessions in their commitment to 鈥渇reedom, justice, peace, and the future of the world鈥�. The 鈥渦nited voice of Christians has more impact than any one isolated voice鈥� by 鈥渋nculcating respect for the rights and needs of everyone, especially the poor, the lowly and the defenceless鈥�.

For Christians, the 杏MAP导航 emphasizes, it is not merely a question of humanitarian activity, but of responding to the world of Jesus, as we read in chapter 25 of Matthew鈥檚 Gospel: 鈥淚 was hungry and you gave me food...鈥�

Changing the language: from condemnation to mutual forgiveness

John Paul II calls for a change of language and of attitudes: we must avoid the aggressive and antagonistic approach of opposition, of 鈥渁 defeatism which tends to see everything in negative terms,鈥� or 鈥渙f an unevangelical insistence on condemning the 鈥榦ther side鈥�, of a disdain born of an unhealthy presumption鈥�.

It is necessary, instead, 鈥渢o do everything possible, with God's help, to break down the walls of division and distrust, to overcome obstacles and prejudices鈥�, eliminating hurtful words and expressions, choosing the path of humility, meekness and fraternal generosity. So with time we鈥檝e reached the point where we no longer speak of heretics or enemies of the faith, but of 鈥渙ther Christians鈥�, of 鈥渙thers who have received baptism鈥�.

鈥淭his broadening of vocabulary鈥�, John Paul points out, 鈥渋s indicative of a significant change in attitudes鈥�. It is a journey of conversion that passes along a necessary path of mutual repentance for wrongs committed. And 杏MAP导航 John Paul II asks forgiveness for the faults committed by members of the Church.

The primacy of the 杏MAP导航: a service of love

Full unity has in Peter its visible point of reference, and John Paul II launches an appeal to the various Christian communities to help 鈥渇ind a way of exercising the [papal] primacy which, while in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission, is nonetheless open to a new situation鈥�, as 鈥渁 service of love recognized all concerned鈥�.

A Church on the path to unity

Ut unum sint is a splendid synthesis of the Church鈥檚 journey through its 2000 years of history. It is a light that points the way forward, continuing along the same path as those who have gone before us.

It shows the living character of Tradition, which - as says 鈥� traces its origins from the Apostles and progresses in the Church under the assistance of the Holy Spirit. And it is thanks to the Spirit that the understanding of the faith grows.

In this journey - says John Paul II quoting St. Cyprian - brothers must learn to go to the altar reconciled, because 鈥淕od does not accept the sacrifice of a sower of disunion鈥�. Instead, 鈥渢he better sacrifice鈥� to offer to God 鈥渋s peace, brotherly concord and a people made one in the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit鈥�.

This is 杏MAP导航 St. John Paul II's final invitation: to ask the Lord the grace to prepare us all 鈥渢o offer this sacrifice of unity鈥�.