ZE071015
ZENIT
The World Seen From Rome
Daily dispatch - October 15, 2007
VATICAN DOSSIER
Benedict XVI Calls Sin a Disfiguring Illness
Pope Urges Release of Kidnapped Iraqi Priests
Pontiff: Sacred Music Enriched by Past and Present
Apostolic Palace's Bronze Door Restored
ANALYSIS
Prostitution: Legal Work or Slavery?
WORLD FEATURES
Moscow Patriarchate Quits Orthodox-Catholic Talks
Holy See Suspends Embroiled Monsignor
ANGELUS
On True Healing
DOCUMENTS
Statement From Catholic-Orthodox Panel
Benedict XVI Calls Sin a Disfiguring Illness
Comments on Gospel Passage of 10 LepersVATICAN CITY, OCT. 15, 2007 (ZENIT.org).- Benedict XVI says that the illness that truly disfigures the person and society is sin, and that only God can heal this infirmity.
The Pope said that Sunday in St. Peter's Square, addressing thousands who had gathered to pray the midday Angelus.
Commenting on Sunday's Gospel passage about the healing of the 10 lepers, the Holy Father said, "This Gospel passage invites us to a double reflection. Above all, it makes us think of two levels of healing: one that is more superficial, affecting the body; another, more profound, reaching the depths of a person, that which the Bible calls the 'heart,' and from there, irradiating to all of existence."
The Pontiff continued: "Jesus uses the expression, 'Your faith has saved you.' Faith saves the human person, re-establishing him in his profound relationship with God, with himself, and with others. And faith is expressed with appreciation. He who, like the healed Samaritan, knows how to give thanks, shows that he does not consider everything as something which is merited, but instead as a gift that, even if it comes through people or through nature, in the end, comes from God.
"Faith involves, then, the openness of the person to the grace of the Lord; to recognize that all is gift, all is grace. What a treasure is hidden in the little phrase: 'thank you!'"
Benedict XVI recalled that in Christ's time, leprosy was considered a "contagious impurity, which required a rite of purification. In reality, the leprosy that truly disfigures the person and society is sin; pride and egotism give birth in the spirit to indifference, hate and violence. Only God, who is Love, can cure this leprosy of the spirit, which disfigures the face of humanity. Upon opening the heart to God, the converted person is healed interiorly of evil."
The Pope also recalled the 90th anniversary of the apparitions in Fatima; a television connection linked the Pope with his secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was in Portugal for the closing of the anniversary celebrations.
"We ask the Blessed Virgin for the gift of conversion for all Christians," the Holy Father said, "so that they may announce and give a faithful and coherent witness to the perennial evangelical message, which indicates to humanity the path to an authentic peace."
Pope Urges Release of Kidnapped Iraqi Priests
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 15, 2007 (ZENIT.org).- Benedict XVI is appealing for the liberation of two Catholic priests kidnapped in Iraq.The Pope's appeal was made Sunday after he prayed the Angelus with thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
"Serious news of attacks and violence continues to arrive daily from Iraq, shaking the conscience of all people who have the good of that country and the peace of the region at heart," he said. "Among this news, I learned today of the kidnapping of two good priests of the Syrian Catholic archdiocese of Mosul, who have been threatened with death.
"I appeal to the kidnappers to release the two religious immediately and, in underlining once again that violence does not resolve tensions, I raise to the Lord a heartfelt prayer for their liberation, for all those suffering from violence, and for peace."
The two priests, Father Mazen Ishoa, 35, and Father Pius Afas, 60, were kidnapped on their way to celebrate Mass on Saturday at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church in the al-Faisaliya neighborhood, reported AsiaNews.
Negotiations are under way to free the priests.
Pontiff: Sacred Music Enriched by Past and Present
Visits Pontifical Institute Devoted to Art FormVATICAN CITY, OCT. 15, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Sacred music is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope said this Saturday during a visit to the newly refurbished Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, the Vatican press office said today.
At the institute, the Holy Father was welcomed by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and chancellor of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, and the institute's president, Monsignor Valentin Miserachs Grau.
The pre-eminence of sacred music over other art forms, the Pontiff explained during his address, "is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy."
"Precisely for this reason, the ecclesial authorities must undertake to guide ... the development of such an important form of music, not by 'freezing' its heritage but by seeking to combine the legacy of the past with the worthwhile novelties of the present, so as to achieve a synthesis worthy of the exalted mission [sacred music] has in the service of God," the Pope added.
"How rich is biblical and patristic tradition in highlighting the efficacy of song and sacred music in moving hearts and lifting toward, we could say, the very intimacy of the life of God," he said.
Benedict XVI recalled that Pope John Paul II said that "today, as always, three characteristics distinguish sacred music: its 'sanctity,' its 'true art,' and its 'universality,' in other words the fact that it can be presented to any people or assembly."
"I am certain," the German Pontiff concluded, "that the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, in harmony with Congregation for Divine Worship, will not fail to contribute to an 'aggiornamento' ... of the precious traditions of which sacred music is so rich."
The Holy Father encouraged the professors and students in their "demanding yet passionate" task, asking them to be "conscious that it has a value of great relevance for the very life of the Church."
Apostolic Palace's Bronze Door Restored
Benedict XVI Says All Are Welcome in His HouseVATICAN CITY, OCT. 15, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that the newly restored bronze door leading to the Apostolic Palace is a symbol of the welcome that Peter's Successor extends to everyone who crosses its threshold.
The Pope presided over the inauguration of the newly restored bronze door of the Vatican on Friday. The door, flanked by Swiss guards, is the official entrance to the Apostolic Palace, where the Pontiff lives and works, and is well known by visitors as the place to get tickets for the Wednesday general audiences.
In his address, the Holy Father recalled that the door "was built by Giovanni Battista Soria and Orazio Censore during the pontificate of Paul V who, between 1617 and 1619, ordered the complete refurbishment of the entire structure of the bronze door."
"In 1663, after the colossal architectural modifications [...] of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the door was moved to its current position [...] between the colonnade of St. Peter's Square and the Constantine Wing," Benedict XVI explained.
The restoration of the door was supposed to have been part of the work in preparation for the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, but was not actually started until 2006.
"Now," said the Pope, the bronze door "has returned to its place and function, under the beautiful mosaic of the Madonna and Child with Sts. Peter and Paul."
The Holy Father continued: "Precisely because it marks the point of access to the house of the person called by the Lord to guide, as father and pastor, the entire People of God, this door assumes a symbolic and spiritual significance.
"Those who come to meet Peter's Successor pass through here. Pilgrims and visitors to the various offices of the apostolic palace cross this threshold."
The Holy Father voiced his wish that "those who enter through the bronze door may feel [...] they are welcomed by the Pope's embrace. The house of the Pope is open to everyone."
Benedict XVI expressed his gratitude and offered congratulations to the artists, the technical services of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, the restoration laboratories of the Vatican Museums, and also to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher and the "Credito Artigiano" Bank, which financed the project.
Prostitution: Legal Work or Slavery?
A Failed Attempt at Defending Women's DignityBy Father John Flynn, L.C.
ROME, OCT. 15, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Legalizing prostitution is under debate in a number of countries.
Hungary recently decided to legalize it, apparently in part due to the government’s desires to exact revenue from an activity they calculate could generate around $1 billion a year, reported the Associated Press, Sept. 24.
Bulgaria, however, took a step in the opposite direction, reversing a plan to legalize prostitution, according to the New York Times, Oct. 6.
“We should be very definite in saying that selling flesh is a crime,” Rumen Petkov, the interior minister, said during a recent forum on human trafficking, the article reported. The New York Times also commented that last year, Finland made it illegal to buy sex from women brought in by traffickers, while Norway is reportedly planning on imposing a complete ban on purchasing sex.
Italy, meanwhile, is considering how to deal with the widespread practice of street prostitution. Interior Minister Giuliano Amato said the government was thinking about measures such as fining clients, reported the Italian daily Avvenire, Sept. 26.
Prostitution is also under debate in Britain, where a new television series, “Belle de Jour,” presents a glamorized view of the sex industry -- a portrayal strongly criticized by Emine Saner in an article published Sept. 20 in the Guardian newspaper.
“Of the estimated 80,000 women who are sex workers in the U.K., the vast majority do it because they have drug problems or families to support and have no other viable way of making money,” Saner commented.
Moreover, she argued that two-thirds of sex workers have experienced violence, including rape. Government data also reveal that at least 60 sex workers have been murdered in the past 10 years.
Guardian commentator Madelaine Bunting returned to the debate with an article published Oct. 8. Around 90% of prostitutes want to leave their activity, she said. At a time when sex trafficking is booming as one of the most lucrative forms of organized crime, we don’t need a fairytale story about prostitution, argued Bunting.
Victorian failure
Countries debating whether or not to legalize prostitution could learn from what occurred in the Australian state of Victoria. The state government legalized prostitution in 1984 and since then, the sex industry has flourished. With over 20 years of experience, many of the promised benefits of legalizing prostitution have not, however, materialized, according to a book published earlier this year.
A detailed examination of the situation in Victoria was authored by self-declared “feminist activist” Mary Lucille Sullivan, in her book “Making Sex Work: A Failed Experiment With Legalised Prostitution,” (Spinifex Press).
“Victoria’s legalized prostitution system assists in maintaining male dominance, the sexual objectification of women, and the cultural approval of violence against women,” is her thesis.
Normalizing prostitution, as if it were merely some kind of employment, has also undermined women’s workplace equality and contradicts other government policies aimed at protecting women’s rights, accused Sullivan.
Too often, she added, the pressures today to treat prostitution as just another job stem from a neo-liberal vision of the free market, which sees women and girls as a commodity. Some feminists who supported the legalization of prostitution, Sullivan continues, were also influenced by a libertarian outlook and a misplaced desire to establish the “rights” of prostitutes. For its part, the state saw economic advantages in legalization, since it could tax a heretofore underground and illegal activity.
Legalization in Victoria, Sullivan explained, was also defended under the guise of minimizing the harm to the women involved, by bringing about formal regulation and legal protections in the sex industry.
Intrinsic violence
This has not occurred, she affirmed, because attempting to portray prostitution as an occupation to be put under the control of health and safety norms ignores the intrinsic violence of prostitution and the fact that sexual harassment and rape are indistinguishable from the product clients buy.
Moreover, legalization itself has introduced a new series of damaging consequences for women, Sullivan argues. Among these is, ironically, a further expansion of the illegal side of prostitution. In fact, the phenomenon of curbside prostitution, far from disappearing with legalization, has continued to grow in Victoria.
Likewise, legalization, far from removing the influence of organized crime, has instead fueled the role of illegality by introducing greater economic incentives for trafficking in women and girls for both legal and illegal brothels. Sullivan also quoted experts in organized crime who allege that the legalized prostitution industry in Victoria still has strong links to underground criminality.
With regard to this human trafficking, Sullivan draws attention to international studies that put at billions the profits made from this modern form slavery. Estimates of the numbers of women and girls who are trafficked range from 700,000 to 2 million each year.
The legalization of prostitution in Victoria has not done anything to reduce illegal sex trafficking, Sullivan argues. In addition, since legalization, child prostitution continues to be a problem.
Billion-dollar industry
We are now in a situation, Sullivan pointed out, where the media, airlines, hotels, the tourist industry and banks all seek to promote and expand the industry of prostitution. In addition, legalization has brought an encroachment of prostitution in public life.
According to data cited in the book, by 1999, annual turnover in Victoria’s prostitution industry reached $360 million (Australian), which at the current exchange rate would be US $323.3 million . Overall in Australia, 3 states and one territory have legalized prostitution. A business information service cited by Sullivan put at $1.780 million (Australian) the turnover in the financial year 2004-05.
Instead of legalization, Sullivan recommended following the example of Sweden, where the law criminalizes the buying of sexual services and does not penalize the women and children. Sweden also helps women who have suffered violence as a result of prostitution.
Legalization of prostitution, Sullivian concluded, makes a fundamental mistake as it enshrines as a man’s “right” the ability to buy women and girls for sexual gratification. Once this is done, it becomes much more difficult to control the industry or prevent the exploitation of women.
Slavery
“Prostitution is a form of modern slavery,” commented a recent document of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, issued June 16. The publication, “Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road,” attracted media attention due to its ten commandments for drivers, but its content also includes a section on street prostitution. (Nos. 85-115)
“The sexual exploitation of women is clearly a consequence of various unjust systems,” commented the Pontifical Council. Causes such as a need for money, the use of violence, and human trafficking contribute to trap women into prostitution.
“The victims of prostitution are human beings, who in many cases cry out for help, to be freed from slavery, because selling one’s own body on the street is usually not what they would voluntarily choose to do,” the document added.
The council called for greater efforts to help free women from the abuses against human dignity that result from prostitution. Catholic institutions, the declaration added, have often helped women to escape from this situation. Women need to be aided so that they can regain their esteem and self-respect, and to be reintegrated into family and community life.
“Customers,” on the other hand, “need enlightenment regarding the respect and dignity of women, interpersonal values and the whole sphere of relationships and sexuality,” the document said. The exploiters also need to be enlightened regarding the hierarchy of the values of life and human rights, it recommended.
“Committing oneself at various levels -- local, national and international -- for the liberation of prostitutes is therefore a true act of a disciple of Jesus Christ, an expression of authentic Christian love,” the council concluded. Surely a far better answer than legalizing what is nothing more than sexual slavery.
Moscow Patriarchate Quits Orthodox-Catholic Talks
Churches Issue Document After Meeting ConcludesRAVENNA, Italy, OCT. 15, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic-Orthodox panel that met to discuss the sacramental nature of the Church approved a joint document, but their meeting was marked by the withdrawal of the Moscow patriarchate from the discussions.
The week long 10th plenary assembly of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox ended Sunday. The group studied the "ecclesiological and canonical consequences of the sacramental nature of the Church -- conciliarity and synodality in the Church" and agreed upon a joint document, the Vatican reported today.
A communiqué from the panel affirmed that "the document offers a solid basis for the future work of the commission," noting that the work on the statement had already begun in September 2006.
However, a communiqué from the commission, made public at the end of the conference, explained that the head of the delegation from the Patriarchate of Moscow, Orthodox Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev of Vienna and Austria, presented his Church's decision to withdraw from the discussions.
He said his Church was withdrawing because "of the presence thereon of delegates from the Church of Estonia, which has been declared 'autonomous' by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a status not recognized by the Patriarchate of Moscow," the Vatican press office reported.
This happened, the report continued, "despite the fact that the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with the agreement of all the Orthodox members present, had offered a compromise solution, that of recording the non-recognition by the Patriarchate of Moscow of the autonomous Church of Estonia."
Russia-Rome
A statement from the Russian Orthodox delegation said: "Before leaving the meeting, Bishop Hilarion addressed members of the Mixed Commission. In his address he emphasized that the delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate is unable to continue its participation in the meeting because it does not recognize 'the Estonian Apostolic Church,' which was invited by the Patriarchate of Constantinople […] Bishop Hilarion also underlined that the Moscow Patriarchate attaches great importance to the dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, and expressed his regret" at the impossibility of the Moscow delegation's participation in the meeting.
The Interfax news service reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke today of the relationship between Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants at the Petersburg Dialogue forum in Wiesbaden, Germany.
"The Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Churches have certain differences, yet, as far as I understood from meetings with the Pontiff and our patriarch, they think alike on fundamental issues and values," he said. "I did not see any difference in their attitudes to Christian and moral values. That is the foundation for debates."
The Vatican announced that the theme of the next meeting of the Joint International Commission will be the role of the Bishop of Rome in the communion of the Church in the first millennium. The date and location are to be announced soon.
The commission statement said its members "strongly commend the continuing work of the dialogue to the prayers of the faithful."
Holy See Suspends Embroiled Monsignor
Cardinal Calls for Serenity Amid InvestigationROME, OCT. 15, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See suspended a priest who declared himself a homosexual on an Italian television program.
Monsignor Tommaso Stenico, who worked at the Congregation for Clergy, is being investigated by the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia.
The 60-year-old priest claims he is the victim of a trap set by the television station.
Cardinal Julián Herranz Casado, president of the Disciplinary Commission, confirmed the suspension today in the Italian daily La Repubblica.
The cardinal affirmed that the Holy See "has promptly intervened already, with suspension," but noted that a final decision will only come with a decision from the commission.
Cardinal Herranz asked that investigators be allowed to work "with serenity […] away from the clamoring of the media" as they try to clarify the situation, "since the process should not be done in the newspapers, but rather by the institutional structures."
"The Holy See is the first one to be interested in cleansing itself from within, but always respecting human rights and after judicial authority pronounces itself," he continued.
The cardinal affirmed that with these kinds of cases, there is certainly "sadness, but one must be aware that these are exceptional cases, I would even dare to say, unique."
During the Italian program "Exit," broadcast Oct. 1, the priest, who remained anonymous on-screen, declared that he was homosexual and that "he didn't feel he was in sin."
The priest said he was not aware that the interview was being recorded. Despite the fact that in the television images, the priest's face and voice are unrecognizable, his office was identified by a reporter and on Oct. 9, Monsignor Stenico was accused.
The monsignor, a doctor of theology with a licentiate in psychology, has worked as a psychotherapist for 30 years. He said he claimed to be homosexual because he was seeking information "to write a book about the problem of homosexuality among priests."
Monsignor Stenico added: "Definitely, it was nothing more than an experiment, a study about the theme, and I have fallen in the trap, but I will explain it to my superiors."
Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said on Saturday that officials "are following this situation with strict discretion and with respect for the person concerned, even if this person committed these errors."
He clarified, "The authorities, however, must intervene with the appropriate severity for such behavior, which is incompatible with the ministry of a priest and the mission of the Holy See."
"What a Treasure Is Hidden in the Little Phrase 'Thank You'"
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 15, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave Sunday to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square when he led the praying of the midday Angelus.
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters!
The Gospel from this Sunday presents Jesus curing 10 lepers, of whom only one, a Samaritan, and thus a foreigner, returns to give thanks (cf. Luke 17:11-19). The Lord says, "Rise and go on your way; your faith has saved you" (Luke 17:19).
This Gospel passage invites us to a double reflection. Above all, it makes us think of two levels of healing: one that is more superficial, affecting the body; another, more profound, reaching the depths of a person, that which the Bible calls the "heart," and from there, irradiating to all of existence.
The complete and radical healing is "salvation." Even in common language, the distinction between "health" and "salvation" helps us to understand that salvation is much more that health. It is, in fact, a new life, full and definitive. Moreover, here, as in other circumstances, Jesus uses the expression, "Your faith has saved you." Faith saves the human person, re-establishing him in his profound relationship with God, with himself, and with others. And faith is expressed with appreciation. He who, like the healed Samaritan, knows how to give thanks, shows that he does not consider everything as something which is merited, but instead as a gift that, even if it comes through people or through nature, in the end, comes from God. Faith involves, then, the openness of the person to the grace of the Lord; to recognize that all is gift, all is grace. What a treasure is hidden in the little phrase "thank you!"
Jesus cures 10 people sick with leprosy, a sickness in that time considered a "contagious impurity," which required a rite of purification (cf. Leviticus 14:1-37). In reality, the leprosy that truly disfigures the person and society is sin; pride and egotism give birth in the spirit to indifference, hate and violence. Only God, who is Love, can cure this leprosy of the spirit, which disfigures the face of humanity. Upon opening the heart to God, the converted person is healed interiorly of evil.
"Repent and believe in the Gospel" (cf. Mark 1:15). Jesus made this invitation at the beginning of his public life, and it continues to resound in the Church, to the point that even the Blessed Virgin in her apparitions, especially in recent times, has renewed this call.
Today we think especially of Fatima, where, precisely 90 years ago, from May 13 to Oct. 13, 1917, the Virgin appeared to three little shepherds: Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco. Thanks to a television connection, I want to make myself spiritually present in that Marian shrine, where Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of state, has in my name presided over the concluding ceremonies of such an important anniversary.
I cordially greet him, and the other cardinals and bishops present, the priests that work in the shrine and the pilgrims who have come from every part of the world for this occasion. We ask the Blessed Virgin for the gift of conversion for all Christians, so that they may announce and give a faithful and coherent witness to the perennial evangelical message, which indicates to humanity the path to an authentic peace.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[After the Angelus, the Pope greeted the pilgrims in various languages. In English, he said:]
I warmly welcome the English-speaking visitors present at this Angelus. In today’s Gospel our Lord takes pity on the lepers, cleansing them of their infirmities and reminding us all of his desire to heal those who suffer. During your time in Rome may God bless you with the saving power of his peace and love.
© Copyright 2007 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
[In Italian, the Pope added:]
Serious news of attacks and violence continues to arrive daily from Iraq, shaking the conscience of all people who have the good of that country and the peace of the region at heart. Among this news, I learned today of the kidnapping of two good priests of the Syrian Catholic archdiocese of Mosul, who have been threatened with death. I appeal to the kidnappers to release the two religious immediately and, in underlining once again that violence does not resolve tensions, I raise to the Lord a heartfelt prayer for their liberation, for all those suffering from violence, and for peace.
[Translation by ZENIT]
Statement From Catholic-Orthodox Panel
"They Commend Dialogue to the Prayers of the Faithful"VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 2007 (ZENIT.org).- Here is the text of a statement from the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox, released by the Vatican press office after the 10th plenary assembly meeting of the panel ended on Sunday. The meeting was held Oct. 8-14 in Ravenna, Italy.
* * *
The 10th meeting of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church met in Ravenna, Italy, a city marked by its historical and artistic monuments, many from the Byzantine era. The meeting took place from Oct. 8-14, 2007, generously hosted by the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.
Twenty seven of the 30 Catholic members (cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and lay theologians) were present. The Orthodox members (metropolitans, bishops; priests and lay theologians) represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Patriarchate of Antioch, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Patriarchate of Serbia, the Patriarchate of Romania, the Patriarchate of Georgia, the Church of Cyprus, the Church of Greece, the Church of Poland, the Church of Albania, the Church of Czech Lands and Slovakia, the Church of Finland and the Apostolic Church of Estonia. The representatives of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria were unable to attend.
The commission worked under the direction of the two co-presidents, Cardinal Walter Kasper and Metropolitan John of Pergamon, helped by the two co-secretaries, Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima, (Ecumenical Patriarchate) and Monsignor Eleuterio Fortino from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
The session began in the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe on the evening of Oct. 8, with the celebration of Vespers, presided over by the Archbishop of Ravenna, the Most Reverend Giuseppe Verucchi, and with a prayer on the part of the Orthodox members.
In addressing those present, the Archbishop of Ravenna stated: “We are happy that you are here. You have the prayers of our two contemplative communities, of the religious men and women, the priests and the parish communities. While you are busy with the dialogue, searching for the path that will lead us closer to full communion, we will not disturb you, but we will embrace you with our affection and prayer.”
The commission was welcomed in the prefecture by the Prefect, Her Excellency Floriana De Sanctis, who expressed the hope that “the desire for dialogue, to understand and to be understood, which characterizes the Joint Commission might be a sign copied by all of us in our daily lives”. Also present at this meeting were the mayor of the city, the president of the region and the president of the province, together with other civil authorities.
The commission has been working on the theme of "The Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church: Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority in the Church." This study had already begun in the previous session in Belgrade, from Sept. 18-25, 2006, on the basis of a draft elaborated by the Joint Coordinating Committee in Moscow in 1990, but which had not yet been discussed in plenary session. At this meeting this study has been completed and an agreed common document was approved. The document offers a solid basis for the future work of the commission.
On the first day of the meeting, as is customary in this commission, the Roman Catholic and Orthodox members met separately to coordinate their work. At the Orthodox meeting, the delegate of the Moscow Patriarchate presented a decision of that Church to withdraw from the meeting because of the presence of delegates from the Church of Estonia, declared “autonomous” by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a status not recognized by the Patriarchate of Moscow, and in spite of the fact that the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the agreement of all the Orthodox members offered a compromise that would have acknowledged the Moscow Patriarchate’s non-recognition of the Autonomous Church of Estonia.
The theme for the next plenary session will be: “The role of the Bishop of Rome in the communion of the Church in the first millennium."
The place and time for the next Coordinating Committee will be decided at a later date.
The 10th plenary session ended with prayer. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the Catholic members celebrated the Eucharist in the Cathedral of Ravenna, in the presence of the Orthodox members. On Sunday, Oct. 14, the Orthodox members celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Basilica of St. Vitalis, in the presence of the Catholic members. On both of these occasions the Archbishop of Ravenna and members of the clergy and laity of Ravenna attended.
The meeting of the Joint Commission was marked by a spirit of friendship and trustful collaboration. The members of the commission greatly appreciated the generous hospitality of the Archdiocese of Ravenna, and they strongly commend the continuing work of the dialogue to the prayers of the faithful.
Ravenna, Italy, Oct. 14, 2007
[Original text: English; text adapted]
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