杏MAP导航

Vatican News

is a document of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity that brings together the fruits of the ecumenical dialogues on the ministry of the 杏MAP导航 in response to the invitation made by 杏MAP导航 John Paul II almost thirty years ago in the wake of the advancements made since the Council. The objective is to seek a form of the exercise of the primacy that is shared by the Churches that lived in full communion in the first centuries. Even if 鈥渘ot all theological dialogues have treated the topic at the same level or in the same depth,鈥� it is possible to indicate some 鈥渘ew approaches鈥� to the more controversial theological questions.

Rereading the Petrine texts

One of the fruits of the theological dialogues is a renewed reading of the 鈥淧etrine texts,鈥� which historically have become an obstacle to unity among Christians. 鈥淒ialogue partners have been challenged to avoid anachronistic projections of later doctrinal developments and to consider afresh the role of Peter among the apostles.鈥� For example, 鈥渁 diversity of images, interpretations and models in the New Testament have been rediscovered, while biblical notions such as episkopè (the ministry of oversight), diakonia, and the concept of 鈥楶etrine function鈥�, have helped develop a more comprehensive understanding of the 鈥楶etrine texts鈥�.鈥�

The origin of primacy

Another controversial issue is the Catholic understanding of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome as an institution of divine right, while most other Christians understand it as an institution of human right only. 鈥淗ermeneutical clarifications,鈥� the document reads, have helped to put this traditional dichotomy 鈥渋nto a new perspective,鈥� considering the primacy to be both of divine right and human right, that is, 鈥渂oth part of God鈥檚 will for the Church and mediated by human history.鈥�

鈥淭he dialogues have emphasized instead the distinction between the theological essence and the historical contingency of primacy鈥� and call 鈥渇or a greater attention to and assessment of the historical context that conditioned the exercise of primacy in different regions and periods.鈥�

The First Vatican Council

鈥淭he dogmatic definitions of the First Vatican Council are a significant obstacle for other Christians. Some ecumenical dialogues have registered promising progress when undertaking a 鈥榬e-reading鈥� or 鈥榬e-reception鈥� of this Council, opening up new avenues for a more accurate understanding of its teaching 鈥�  in light of their historical context鈥� and of the teaching of Vatican II. This allowed a clarification of the dogmatic definition of the 杏MAP导航's universal jurisdiction, 鈥渂y identifying its extension and limits.鈥�

Similarly, it became possible 鈥渢o clarify the wording of the dogma of infallibility and even to agree on certain aspects of its purpose, recognizing the need, in some circumstances, for a personal exercise of the teaching ministry, given that Christian unity is a unity in truth and love.鈥�

Despite these clarifications, the document acknowledges, 鈥渢he dialogues still express concerns regarding the relation of infallibility to the primacy of the Gospel, the indefectibility of the whole Church, the exercise of episcopal collegiality and the necessity of reception.鈥�

A ministry for the reconciled Church

Many theological dialogues have recognised 鈥渢he necessity of a ministry of unity at the universal level 鈥� Referring to apostolic tradition, some dialogues argue that, from the early Church, Christianity was established on major apostolic sees occupying a specific order, the see of Rome being the first.鈥�

Some dialogues 鈥渉ave maintained that there is a mutual interdependency of primacy and synodality at each level of the life of the Church: local, regional, but also universal. Another argument, of a more pragmatic nature, is founded on the contemporary context of globalization and on missionary requirements.鈥�

鈥淪ome dialogues have pointed out that there is a mutual interdependence between primacy and synodality at every level of Church life: local, regional, but also universal. Another argument in favour, of a more pragmatic nature, concerns the contemporary context of globalisation and missionary needs.鈥�

Moreover, 鈥淐ertain criteria of the first millennium鈥� have been 鈥渋dentified as points of reference and sources of inspiration for the acceptable exercise of a ministry of unity at the universal level, such as: the informal 鈥� and not primarily jurisdictional 鈥� character of the expressions of communion between the Churches; the 鈥榩rimacy of honour鈥� of the Bishop of Rome鈥� and 鈥渢he interdependency between the primatial and synodal dimensions of the Church.鈥�

Primacy and synodality

Many dialogues recognise, however, that the 鈥渇irst millennium of Christian history 鈥� should not be idealised nor simply recreated,鈥� in part 鈥渂ecause a primacy at the universal level should respond to contemporary challenges.鈥�

鈥淪ome principles for the exercise of primacy in the 21st century鈥� have also been identified. 鈥淎 first general agreement is the mutual interdependency of primacy and synodality at each level of the Church, and the consequent requirement for a synodal exercise of primacy.鈥�

鈥淎 further agreement concerns the articulation between鈥�  the 鈥榗ommunal鈥� dimension based on the sensus fidei of all the baptized; the 鈥榗ollegial鈥� dimension, expressed especially in episcopal collegiality; and the 鈥榩ersonal鈥� dimension expressed in the primatial function.鈥�

A further, 鈥渃rucial issue is the relationship between the local Church and the universal Church, which has important consequences for the exercise of primacy. Ecumenical dialogues helped bring about agreement on the simultaneity of these dimensions, insisting that it is not possible to separate the dialectical relationship between the local Church and the universal Church.鈥�

The role of Bishops鈥� conferences

鈥淢any dialogues stress the need for a balance between the exercise of primacy on a regional and universal level, noting that in most Christian communions the regional level is the most relevant for the exercise of primacy and also for their missional activity. Some theological dialogues with the Western Christian communions, observing an 鈥榓symmetry鈥� between these communions and the Catholic Church, call for a strengthening of Catholic episcopal conferences, including at the continental level, and for a continuing 鈥榙ecentralization鈥� inspired by the model of the ancient patriarchal Churches.鈥�

Traditions and subsidiarity

The importance of the principle of subsidiarity 鈥� the idea that 鈥渘o matter that can properly be dealt with at a lower level should be taken to a higher one鈥�

鈥淪ome dialogues apply this principle in defining an acceptable model of 鈥榰nity in diversity鈥� with the Catholic Church. They argue that the power of the Bishop of Rome should not exceed that required for the exercise of his ministry of unity at the universal level, and suggest a voluntary limitation in the exercise of his power 鈥� while recognizing that he will need a sufficient amount of authority to meet the many challenges and complex obligations related to his ministry.鈥�

Practical suggestions

鈥淎 first proposal is a Catholic 鈥榬e-reception鈥�, 鈥榬e-interpretation鈥�, 鈥榦fficial interpretation鈥�, 鈥榰pdated commentary鈥� or even 鈥榬ewording鈥� of the teachings of Vatican I鈥� that could involve 鈥渘ew expressions and vocabulary faithful to the original intention but integrated into a communio ecclesiology and adapted to the current cultural and ecumenical context.鈥�

Some dialogues have suggested that 鈥渁 clearer distinction鈥� be made 鈥渂etween the different responsibilities of the Bishop of Rome, especially between his patriarchal ministry in the Church of the West and his primatial ministry of unity in the communion of Churches.鈥� There have also been calls for 鈥渁 greater accent on the exercise of the ministry of the 杏MAP导航 in his own particular Church, the diocese of Rome鈥︹��

鈥淎 third recommendation 鈥� concerns the development of synodality within the Catholic Church. In particular, 鈥渇urther reflection on the authority of national and regional Catholic bishops鈥� conferences, their relationship with the Synod of Bishops and with the Roman Curia鈥� has been called for. 鈥淎t the universal level鈥� the dialogues 鈥渟tress the need for a better involvement of the whole People of God in the synodal processes.鈥�

A final proposal involves  鈥渢he promotion of 鈥榗onciliar fellowship鈥� through regular meetings among Church leaders at a worldwide level鈥� and the promotion of 鈥渟ynodality between Churches 鈥� through regular consultations and common action and witness.鈥�

You can find the full text of  on the website of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.