Cardinal Kurt Koch, the prefect of the Dicastery for Christian Unity, says that Pope Francis should meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill only if they can agree to conditions that show mutual respect.
Newsroom (15/08/2022 12:30 PM Gaudium Press) Cardinal Kurt Koch, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity, says that a meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow is only possible under very strict conditions. To begin with, there must be unmistakable mutual respect. He personally thinks that the Pope should visit Ukraine in advance. But if a joint statement can help to end the brutal and senseless war in Ukraine sooner, then such a conversation should certainly not be rejected. Both the Pope and the Russian patriarch will participate in the interfaith meeting in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan, in early September. That is why observers believe there is a good chance that they will meet a second time there after their previous conversation in Cuba.
The Vatican’s ecumenical officer also looks ahead to the important meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Karlsruhe at the end of August. He hopes that the theme of the WCC meeting – The Love of Christ Moves, Reconciles, and Unites the World – can help clarify what this love can do in our world and among Christians. Koch expects that the war in Ukraine in Karlsruhe will be an important topic of discussion, also because delegations from both countries will be present.
In recent months there has been a heated debate within the WCC about whether the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate should be barred. But Cardinal Koch thinks it is much better to remain in dialogue. The WCC officials also share the same opinion. Also, and perhaps especially within the Orthodox world, the attitude of the Moscow Patriarchate has caused great division. But there too, the church communities continue to talk to each other.
In the Middle East, Koch reiterates that the Holy See remains in favour of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with guarantees for the three major Monotheist religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Israel and Palestine both have a right to exist. At the same time, he hopes that everyone will continue to look for solutions to end this conflict.
– Raju Hasmukh
(Via KNA/Vaticannews.va)
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