In the past few weeks, condolences have come in from across the world over the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, with many religious leaders remembering him as a Roman Catholic bishop who reached out ecumenically and inter-religiously.
Shortly after being elected Bishop of Rome on April 19, 2005, Pope Benedict called the cardinals together to share some of the priorities he foresaw during his upcoming papacy, including how fostering Christian unity would be one of his most important tasks. He often encouraged the continuation of ecumenical contacts and dialogues that began under his predecessors.
One of his first trips as Pope was to Istanbul in November 2006. It was on this occasion that he signed a Common Declaration with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. This declaration expressed the joy they felt as brothers as they renewed their commitment to move toward full communion. They also re-engaged the international dialogues, which were stalled following the end of communism in eastern Europe. In his condolences to Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew recalled the Common Declaration. He remarked that they worked together for the unity of Orthodox and Catholics, complimenting Benedict as a distinguished theologian whose deep knowledge of Orthodox theology was very much appreciated in the Orthodox world.
Also during his papacy, Pope Benedict encouraged deeper understanding and cooperation with the Anglican Communion and other communities that trace their roots back to the Reformation. He received Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, head of the Anglican Communion, in 2006 at the Vatican. Together, they signed a Common Declaration that praised the “significant elements of shared faith.” Since both men were theologians, they hit it off very well.
Upon hearing of Pope Benedict’s death, the sitting Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said, “Today, I join with the church throughout the world, and especially with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and all in the Catholic Church, in mourning the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. In Pope Benedict’s long life and ministry of service to Christ in His Church, he saw many profound changes in the church and in the world. … Pope Benedict was one of the greatest theologians of his age – committed to the faith of the Church and stalwart in its defense. In all things, not least in his writing and his preaching, he looked to Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God. It was abundantly clear that Christ was the root of his thought and the basis of his prayer.”
As a German, Pope Benedict had a special interest in dialogue with Lutherans. In March 2007, on the 60th anniversary of the Lutheran World Federation, he sent a message praising the “always fruitful” dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics since the Second Vatican Council. During his apostolic journey to Germany in 2011, Pope Benedict said, “The most important thing for ecumenism is not to lose sight of the great things in common that make us Christians in the first place. This is a central ecumenical task in which we must help each other to believe more deeply and more vividly.”
In condolences of the retired pope’s passing, the Lutheran World Federation general secretary, the Rev. Anne Burghardt, said, “Pope Benedict XVI was a sharp-minded theologian whose strong academic background shaped his pontificate. We give thanks for his encouragement never to slacken in the ecumenical endeavor, and we will gratefully remember his appreciation of the Joint Declaration of Doctrine of Justification that has enabled many advances in Lutheran-Roman Catholic relations.”
I think that a friend of mine, Father Ronald Roberson, CSP, a wise ecumenist, summed up Pope Benedict’s contribution well, saying, “Pope Benedict took care to introduce a note of realism in the Catholic Church’s ecumenical efforts. He reaffirmed the teaching of Vatican II that while the fullness of the one Church of Christ is found in the Catholic Church, there are also authentic and salvific elements of the Church that exist in other communions. He pointed out that the evolving teaching of some churches of the West on moral matters, especially pertaining to sexuality, were beginning to present new barriers on the path toward full communion.
“There can be no doubt that throughout his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI was firmly committed to the restoration of the unity of the followers of Jesus. He knew how deeply the Christian proclamation of the Gospel is compromised by our division, and how much stronger it would be if we spoke with one voice. It can be said that he made every effort to hasten the day when the world will see Christians fully united, and so come to believe in the risen Lord.”
Father Joseph D. Wallace is diocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs and pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
