APOSTOLIC LETTER TO GREEK-CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ROMANIA

VATICAN CITY, JUL 20, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was the Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father John Paul II for the Third Centenary of the Union of the Greek-Catholic Church of Romania with the Church of Rome. In the letter, dated May 7, 2000, the Pope also recalls his apostolic visit to that country from May 7 to 9, 1999.

He called the 1999 trip "a special gift from the Lord" and said he well remembers "the beauty of your land and the faith of the people who live there."

The letter focussed not only on the May 7 anniversary of the union of the Greek-Catholic Church of Romania with Rome, but of the need for the Church to fulfill her "duty to progressively realize unity with God and among men."

The Pope wrote of the vicissitudes of the Church in Romania over the millennia, from the third century when Latin Christianity was introduced, to the introduction of the Byzantine rite at the start of the eighth century to the period when Romania's Christians became Orthodox, the predominant religion today. A large number of adherents, however, asked for reunion with Rome, and this was achieved in 1700.

"The Romanians, in fact, being a Latin people, have been open to receiving the treasures of the Byzantine faith and culture. Despite the wounds of division, this legacy remains shared by the Greek-Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Romania. ... The hearts of the sons and daughters of this ancient Church have always beat strongly with passion for the unity willed by Christ."

He said that this passion was "lived in a singular way by the Romanian Church in Transylvania, especially after the tragic division between the Christianity of the East and that of the West" in 1054. And he recalled the efforts of those who tried to heal this wound, culminating in a movement which asked for, and obtained, full union with Rome, "officially decided upon on October 7, 1698 and solemnly ratified on May 7, 1700." He asked: "How can we not recognize the precious service rendered by the Greek-Catholic Church to the entire Romanian people of Transylvania."

John Paul II observed that "notwithstanding the numerous difficulties encountered, the Greek-Catholic Church of Romania ... has seemed to be ever more a singular witness to the unforeswearable value of ecclesial unity. But it was above all in the second half of the 20th century, at the time of communist totalitarianism, that your Church had to undergo a very hard trial, justly earning the title of 'the Church of confessors and martyrs'."

He urged the faithful not to be demoralized notwithstanding the difficulties the Church is encountering as it comes back from years of suppression and to undertake their journey "with faith that they can count on God's help."

In light of the persecutions undergone by the Church, Pope John Paul suggested an updating of its martyrology, "enacting the necessary measures to enrich the documentation about the events which transpired and to thus allow future generations to know their history." He underlined the persecutions undergone by the Orthodox Church and by other Churches and religious communities.

The Pope recognized that the Greek-Catholic Church of Romania was not able to fully participate in Vatican Council II, which "faced with major attention the delicate questions of the Oriental Catholic Churches, of ecumenism and of the Church in general." He also recognized that the Greek-Catholic Church of Romania was making "laborious efforts" to commit itself to the counciliar teachings as set forth in the Church's Magisterium and "to fully welcome the indications of the Holy See." The Pope stressed at length the special commitment made during Vatican Council II to the search for full unity among Christians.

"My immediate predecessors," John Paul II affirmed, "beginning with John XXIII of venerated memory, have multiplied efforts in favor of ecumenical reconciliation, in particular with the Orthodox Churches. ... Under the merciful glance of her Lord, the Church remembers her past, recognizes the errors of her children and confesses their lack of love for their brothers in Christ and, as a consequence, asks for pardon and pardons, seeking to re-establish full unity among Christians."

He wrote that "the attempt to search for full communion is inevitably conditioned by the historical context, by the political situation and by the dominant mentality of each era. ... The changed circumstances of the present call for a search for unity in a broader ecumenical horizon."

"As I encouraged the process of revision of the mode of exercising the petrine ministry within Christian ecumenism, except for those exigencies which come from the will of Christ, I thus urge an updating and a deeper study of the specific vocation of the Oriental Churches in communion with Rome in the new context, appealing for the study and reflection of all the Churches."

In concluding remarks, the Holy Father said that "an authentic return to liturgical and patristic traditions, a treasure you share with the Orthodox Church, will contribute to the reconciliation with other Churches present in Romania." He "warmly encouraged pursuing the dialogue between your Church and the Orthodox Church."

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COMMUNIQUE ON ROMAN CATHOLIC-ORTHODOX CHURCH DIALOGUE

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 2000 (VIS) - Made public this afternoon was a communique, written in English, from the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, which met in plenary session at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, U.S.A. from July 9 to today.

The meeting was hosted by Cardinal William Keeler, archbishop of Baltimore and co-chaired by Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, ecumenical patriarchate. The Catholic archbishops, bishops and scholars came from the United States, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Germany, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Poland and Romania. The Orthodox metropolitans, bishops and scholars were from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Moscow and Romania, and the Churches of Cyprus, Greece, Albania, Poland, Finland and Estonia.

The communique highlighted the acts of worship during this period, including a service of prayer at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Basilica, a doxology at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the Eucharist in Assumption Catholic Basilica in Baltimore and a divine liturgy in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sophia in Washington.

"The theme discussed at this plenary session," states the communique, "was the 'Ecclesiological and Canonical Implications of Uniatism', ... a subject which has assumed particular importance since the changes which occurred in Central and Eastern Europe over the last ten years."

"Although reactions were generally positive," it adds, the documents touching upon theological aspects and practical guidelines "were met with some reserve and even outright opposition, sometimes from each side. Therefore, it was felt necessary to continue the reflection by the Joint Commission in order to find common understanding on this extremely thorny question."

"The discussions of this plenary were far-reaching, intense and thorough. They touched upon many theological and canonical questions connected with the existence and the activities of the Eastern Catholic Churches. However, since agreement was not reached on the basic theological concept of uniatism, it was decided not to have a common statement at this time. For this reason, the members will report to their Churches who will indicate how to overcome this obstacle for the peaceful continuation of the dialogue.

"The Commission sees the need for further study of the theological, pastoral, historical and canonical aspects related to this issue. ... Despite all the difficulties the Commission hopes that through this process it will be able to develop further its quest for full communion between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches."

The communique concludes by recalling that the Commission, in this Year 2000, celebrates the 20th anniversary of the beginning of its work at Patmos and Rhodes in 1980.

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PREMONSTRATENSIANS CELEBRATE GENERAL CHAPTER

VATICAN CITY, JULY 19, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Pope John Paul to Abbot Hermengild Joseph Noyens of the Premonstratensians (the Order of the Canons Regular of Premontre, also known as the Norbertines), who are celebrating their general chapter. The letter is dated July 6 and is written in Latin. This order was founded by St. Norbert in 1120 at Premontre, France.

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IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 2000 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Bishop Jean-Marie Ogez, M.Afr., emeritus of Mbarara, Uganda, on July 10 at the age of 90.
- Bishop Giuseppe Petralia, emeritus of Agrigento, Italy, on July 7 at the age of 94.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 19, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Miguel Angel Moran Aquino, vice rector of "San Jose de la Montada" central seminary in San Salvador, as bishop of San Miguel (area 4,993, population 825,000, Catholics 796,000, priests 52, religious 45), El Salvador. The bishop-elect was born in 1955 in Esquipulas, El Salvador and was ordained a priest in 1981.

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