Ut Unum Sint?
Don't get your hopes up: Russian Orthodox says Pope should shed more titles.
Here are the titles His Excellency Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev would have the Holy Father shed and those he would have him keep:
I hate to be less than œcumenical when it comes to the Orthodox, but, with all due respect, when I read His Excellency saying that "[o]nly renouncing titles stressing the universal jurisdiction of the pope, and the ecclesiological doctrine hidden behind that, would be a real step on the path toward reconciliation between the Orthodox and Catholic churches," the first thought that comes to mind was Protestantism. This could well be an over-reaction on my part, but when it comes to the Papacy, I am unabashed in my Ultramontanism.
If I were Pope or Patriarch, my œcumenical strategy would be to set these doctrinal differences aside for the time being and focus on re-evangelizing the world and fighting common enemies like militant secularism, which I think is being done.
Don't get your hopes up: Russian Orthodox says Pope should shed more titles.
Here are the titles His Excellency Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev would have the Holy Father shed and those he would have him keep:
- Hilarion objected to three of Benedict's eight remaining titles -- Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles and Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church -- because the Orthodox do not believe any cleric can claim such authority.
The rest -- Bishop of Rome, Primate of Italy, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Province, Sovereign of Vatican City and Servant of the Servants of God -- refer to more limited powers of the pope and do not clash with Orthodox views.
I hate to be less than œcumenical when it comes to the Orthodox, but, with all due respect, when I read His Excellency saying that "[o]nly renouncing titles stressing the universal jurisdiction of the pope, and the ecclesiological doctrine hidden behind that, would be a real step on the path toward reconciliation between the Orthodox and Catholic churches," the first thought that comes to mind was Protestantism. This could well be an over-reaction on my part, but when it comes to the Papacy, I am unabashed in my Ultramontanism.
If I were Pope or Patriarch, my œcumenical strategy would be to set these doctrinal differences aside for the time being and focus on re-evangelizing the world and fighting common enemies like militant secularism, which I think is being done.





Redeemed by Our Savior, I work out my salvation with fear and trembling in Pohang, South Korea, where I live with my wife, daughter, and son and teach English at a science and technology university. Baptized a Methodist and raised a Missouri Synod Lutheran in Buffalo, NY, I spent six years as a guest of the Anglican Communion before being received by the Grace of God into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on the Feast of Saint Andrew, my patron, anno domini 2002.





<< Home