Full text: Common
Declaration of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
1. Like our venerable predecessors Pope Paul VI and
Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras who met here in Jerusalem fifty years ago, we
too, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, were determined to meet
in the Holy Land “where our common Redeemer, Christ our Lord, lived, taught,
died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, whence he sent the Holy Spirit on
the infant Church” (Common communiqué of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch
Athenagoras, published after their meeting of 6 January 1964). Our meeting,
another encounter of the Bishops of the Churches of Rome and Constantinople founded respectively by the two
Brothers the Apostles Peter and Andrew, is a source of profound spiritual joy
for us. It presents a providential occasion to reflect on the depth and the
authenticity of our existing bonds, themselves the fruit of a grace-filled
journey on which the Lord has guided us since that blessed day of fifty years
ago.
2. Our fraternal encounter today is a new and necessary
step on the journey towards the unity to which only the Holy Spirit can lead
us, that of communion in legitimate diversity. We call to mind with profound
gratitude the steps that the Lord has already enabled us to undertake. The
embrace exchanged between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras here in Jerusalem Constantinople , by regular correspondence and,
later, by the decision announced by Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Dimitrios,
of blessed memory both, to initiate a theological dialogue of truth between
Catholics and Orthodox. Over these years, God, the source of all peace and
love, has taught us to regard one another as members of the same Christian
family, under one Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and to love one another, so
that we may confess our faith in the same Gospel of Christ, as received by the
Apostles and expressed and transmitted to us by the Ecumenical Councils and the
Church Fathers. While fully aware of not having reached the goal of full
communion, today we confirm our commitment to continue walking together towards
the unity for which Christ our Lord prayed to the Father so “that all may be
one” (Jn 17:21).
3. Well aware that unity is manifested in love of God and
love of neighbour, we look forward in eager anticipation to the day in which we
will finally partake together in the Eucharistic banquet. As Christians, we are
called to prepare to receive this gift of Eucharistic communion, according to
the teaching of Saint Irenaeus of Lyon (Against Heresies, IV,18,5, PG 7,1028),
through the confession of the one faith, persevering prayer, inner conversion,
renewal of life and fraternal dialogue. By achieving this hoped for goal, we
will manifest to the world the love of God by which we are recognized as true
disciples of Jesus Christ (cf. Jn 13:35 ).
4. To this end, the theological dialogue undertaken by the
Joint International Commission offers a fundamental contribution to the search
for full communion among Catholics and Orthodox. Throughout the subsequent
times of Popes John Paul II and Benedict the XVI, and Patriarch Dimitrios, the
progress of our theological encounters has been substantial. Today we express
heartfelt appreciation for the achievements to date, as well as for the current
endeavours. This is no mere theoretical exercise, but an exercise in truth and
love that demands an ever deeper knowledge of each other’s traditions in order
to understand them and to learn from them. Thus we affirm once again that the
theological dialogue does not seek a theological lowest common denominator on
which to reach a compromise, but is rather about deepening one’s grasp of the
whole truth that Christ has given to his Church, a truth that we never cease to
understand better as we follow the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Hence, we affirm
together that our faithfulness to the Lord demands fraternal encounter and true
dialogue. Such a common pursuit does not lead us away from the truth; rather,
through an exchange of gifts, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it will
lead us into all truth (cf. Jn 16:13 ).
5. Yet even as we make this journey towards full communion
we already have the duty to offer common witness to the love of God for all
people by working together in the service of humanity, especially in defending
the dignity of the human person at every stage of life and the sanctity of
family based on marriage, in promoting peace and the common good, and in
responding to the suffering that continues to afflict our world. We acknowledge
that hunger, poverty, illiteracy, the inequitable distribution of resources
must constantly be addressed. It is our duty to seek to build together a just
and humane society in which no-one feels excluded or emarginated.
6. It is our profound conviction that the future of the
human family depends also on how we safeguard – both prudently and
compassionately, with justice and fairness – the gift of creation that our
Creator has entrusted to us. Therefore, we acknowledge in repentance the
wrongful mistreatment of our planet, which is tantamount to sin before the eyes
of God. We reaffirm our responsibility and obligation to foster a sense of
humility and moderation so that all may feel the need to respect creation and
to safeguard it with care. Together, we pledge our commitment to raising
awareness about the stewardship of creation; we appeal to all people of
goodwill to consider ways of living less wastefully and more frugally,
manifesting less greed and more generosity for the protection of God’s world
and the benefit of His people.
7. There is likewise an urgent need for effective and
committed cooperation of Christians in order to safeguard everywhere the right
to express publicly one’s faith and to be treated fairly when promoting that
which Christianity continues to offer to contemporary society and culture. In
this regard, we invite all Christians to promote an authentic dialogue with
Judaism, Islam and other religious traditions. Indifference and mutual
ignorance can only lead to mistrust and unfortunately even conflict.
8. From this holy city of Jerusalem Middle East and for their right to remain full
citizens of their homelands. In trust we turn to the almighty and merciful God
in a prayer for peace in the Holy Land and in the Middle East in general. We especially pray for the Churches in Egypt Syria Iraq
9. In an historical context marked by violence,
indifference and egoism, many men and women today feel that they have lost
their bearings. It is precisely through our common witness to the good news of
the Gospel that we may be able to help the people of our time to rediscover the
way that leads to truth, justice and peace. United in our intentions, and
recalling the example, fifty years ago here in Jerusalem, of Pope Paul VI and
Patriarch Athenagoras, we call upon all Christians, together with believers of
every religious tradition and all people of good will, to recognize the urgency
of the hour that compels us to seek the reconciliation and unity of the human
family, while fully respecting legitimate differences, for the good of all
humanity and of future generations.
10. In undertaking this shared pilgrimage to the site where
our one same Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and rose again, we humbly
commend to the intercession of the Most Holy and Ever Virgin Mary our future
steps on the path towards the fullness of unity, entrusting to God’s infinite
love the entire human family. “ May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and
be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” (Num
6:25-26).
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