Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill

For those following today’s historic meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, they have issued a joint declaration. I offer a few editorial remarks and reserve the right to chime in a bit later as well, once I have digested the text:

  1. The text celebrates the common traditions and concerns of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. The references to Christian birth and rebirth in Cuba and Russia are notable, celebratory remarks;
  2. The text acknowledges the pain of separation felt by Orthodox and Catholics, manifest in the absence of sharing Eucharistic communion (no. 5);
  3.  The text focuses on the challenges of the contemporary world (no. 6), especially the plight of Christian communities in the Middle East. The inclusion of this concern in the declaration was expected (nos. 8-12).
  4. Particularly notable is the joint lament over the state of affairs in Europe (no. 16); the appeal for Europe to honor religious identity is in stark contrast to the celebration of Christian rebirth in Cuba and Russia.
  5. I noted the joint appeal to young people to defend God’s truth from secular norms (no. 22). This point, which has many echoes among contemporary Christian leaders, raises a question: can Christianity engage secularism in a meaningful dialogue?
  6. Nos. 25-27 concern Ukraine. The dismissal of the method of uniatism as a path to unity deserves attention, given its tradition of being an obstacle to Orthodox-Catholic unity. I wonder how Ukrainian Greek Catholics will respond to this point, as the text defends their right to exist but does not speak to their mission. Furthermore, how might Catholics contribute to healing the schism among Orthodox in Ukraine (no. 27)? I suspect that many Ukrainians will object to the wording of no. 26, which refuses to implicate any party outside of implicit references to “hostility” and “all the parts involved in the conflict.” The text does not implicate at all, however; there is no naming of the aggressors in nos. 8-12, either.

Will the historic meeting and joint declaration mark a new era in Orthodox-Catholic relations? Only time will tell.

Nicholas Denysenko

Nicholas Denysenko serves as Emil and Elfriede Jochum Professor and Chair at Valparaiso University. He previously taught at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles (2010-2017). Denysenko is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.S. in Business, 1994), St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (M.Div., 2000), and The Catholic University of America (Ph.D., 2008). His most recent books are The Church's Unholy War: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine and Orthodoxy (Cascade, 2023), and This is the Day That the Lord Has Made: The Liturgical Year in Orthodoxy (Cascade, 2023). He is a priest of the Orthodox Church in America.

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Comments

5 responses to “Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill”

  1. Joseph Villecco

    The declaration had a lot of meat to eat. Usually these things seem rather routine – this may or may not have substance. It remains to be seen if Moscow wants to follow the lead of Constantinople. Granted – Kirill has had his ecumenical moment with Rome, but it remains to be seen if this is the catalyst to get things moving.

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  2. John Kohanski

    The fact that the document calls the Eastern Catholic Churches “ecclesial communities” and not “Churches,” is a slap in the face to those who suffered and continue to suffer for their communion with and fidelity to Rome.

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  3. Todd Orbitz

    I like the fact we have a new title for the Holy Father.

    To my knowledge, never before used, “Pope of the Catholic Church”. I wonder if that will appear in the Annuario next year.

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    1. Karl Liam Saur

      @Todd Orbitz:
      It’s been used before.

      For example, in 1994 by Pope St John Paul II (in the preamble here):

      http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_11111994_assyrian-church_en.html

      Reply
  4. Peter Haydon

    Two comments: First note paragraph 20. I doubt that it have been necessary 50 years ago. Today it might be seen as providing support for Russian policy to homosexuals.
    Second, unrelated, the Ukrainians seem not to like it: http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1351233?eng=y
    I wonder if Pope Francis took care to consider their views carefully before agreeing to this declaration.

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