‘Common understanding’ reached with Orthodox

At a top-level Orthodox-Catholic meeting in Chieti, Italy, the Churches agreed on the need to explore ways authority is understood and exercised, so that it is not an obstacle to unity, writes James Roberts.

Members of the official Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church met from 16 to 21 September and approved a document titled “Synodality and Primacy during the First Millennium: Towards a Common Understanding in Service to the Unity of the Church”.

“While recognising diversity … the commission acknowledged the continuity of theological, canonical and liturgical principles, which constituted the bond of communion between East and West,” the statement said.
“This common understanding is the point of reference and a powerful source of inspiration for Catholics and Orthodox as they seek to restore full communion today,” it said. “On this basis, both must consider how synodality, primacy and the interrelatedness between them can be conceived and exercised today and in the future.”

“Primacy” refers to the authority of the lead bishop or pope, and “synodality” refers to the authority exercised collegially by synods of bishops. Orthodox patriarchs are recognised spiritual leaders and exercise authority over some areas of church life, but do not have the kind of jurisdiction the pope has over the Church, especially its Latin-rite dioceses.

Twenty-six Orthodox bishops and theologians – two each from 13 of the 14 Orthodox Churches – and 26 Catholic bishops and theologians participated in the meeting. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church did not send representatives. Those of the Orthodox Church of Georgia disagreed with “some paragraphs” of the document.