The Requirements for an Ecumenical Dialogue according to Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical Letter „Ut unum sint"
Abstract
In the Christian theological language, the term “ecumenism” was put in circulation by the Ecumenical Movement initiated by the Christians after the First World War. But, in the language of the Catholic Church, the term “ecumenism,” used with the meaning of the “ecumenical movement,” was introduced by the renowned theologian Yves Congar in 1937. And, then, it was taken over by the Second Vatican Council for the
text of the decree on ecumenism Unitatis redintegratio. The Roman Catholic Church joined the Ecumenical Movement in 1961, when its delegates were presents at the Session — held in New Delhi — of the Ecumenical Council. Among other things, from the text of the Encyclical Ut unum sint published by Pope John Paul II in the year 1995, we could notice that His Holiness asserted that an ecumenical dialogue — that remains in fact one of the main instruments for the reestablishment of the ecumenical unity — has to fulfill the requirements stipulated by the Second Vatican Council, adopted however to the ecumenical realities of the present times.
Keywords
ecumenical dialogue; the Second Vatican Council; the Christian unity
References
“Décret sur la charge pastorale des évêques dans l’Église Christus Dominus.” In: Concile oecuménique Vatican II. Constitutions, décrets, déclarations, messages. Textes français et latin. Centurion, Paris 1967, pp. 349—392.
“Décret sur l’œcuménisme Unitatis redintegratio.” In: Concile oecuménique Vatican II. Constitutions, décrets, déclarations, messages. Textes français et latin. Centurion, Paris 1967, pp. 601—634.
Birmelé A.: “Unité de l’Église.” In: Dictionnaire critique de théologie. Sous la direction de J.-Y. Lacoste, O. Riaudel. Presses Universitaires de France, Parie 1998, pp. 1193—1195.
Catehismul Bisericii Catolice (The Catechism of the Catholic Church). Libreria Editrice a Arhiepiscopiei Romano-Catolice din București, Bucharest 1993.
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum concilium solemnly promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on December 4, 1963. https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html [accessed 3.05.2022].
Dancă W.: “Paradoxurile modernităţii. Papa Ioan Paul al II-lea și contradicţiile lumii moderne” (The paradoxes of modernity. Pope John Paul II and the contradictions of the modern world). In: Ca toţi să fim una. Studii și articole în onoarea PS Pentru Gherghel cu ocazia aniversării a 20 de ani de episcopat și 70 de ani de viaţă. Coord. A. Percă. Sapientia, Iași 2010, pp. 44—67.
Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis redintegratio, https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html [accessed 19.02.2022].
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium, solemnly promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI, on November 21, 1964. https://www.vatican.va/a rch ive/ h ist _ cou nc i ls/i i _vat ica n _ cou nc i l /doc u ments/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html [accessed 23.04.2022].
Dură I.: Dositheus of Jerusalem and his connections with the Romanian Countries and their Church. Athens 1977 (in Greek).
Dură I.: Recherches sur l’histoire des Pays roumains et leur Eglise (XVIe—XIXe s.). Brussels 1985.
Dură N.V.: “‘Antimoz Iverieli’ (Anthim the Iberian). New Contributions on his Life and Printing Activity.” Bulletin of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences 2 (2016), pp. 153—162.
Dură N.V.: “Consideraţii asupra dialogurilor teologice ale Bisericii Ortodoxe cu Bisericile: Romano-Catolică, Anglicană, Veche-Catolică, Orientală (necalcedoniană) şi Luterană” (Considerations on the theological dialogues of the Orthodox Church with the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Old Catholic, Oriental (non-Chalcedonian) and Lutheran Churches). Ortodoxia 3 (1985), pp. 390—449.
Dură N.V.: “Consideraţii canonico-ecleziologice privind Documentul de la Lima (B.E.M.)” (Canonical-ecclesiological considerations on the Lima Document (B.E.M.)). Ortodoxia 2 (1986), pp. 119—147.
Dură N.V.: “Dialogul teologic interreligios şi regula sa de aur: Libertas et in omnia Caritas” (The interreligious theological dialogue and its golden rule: Libertas et in omnia Caritas). Revista de Teologie Sfântul Apostol Andrei 1 (2007), pp. 34—46.
Dură N.V.: “Documentul de la Lima (B.E.M.) şi evaluarea sa teologică” (The Lima Document (B.E.M.) and its theological evaluation). Mitropolia Moldovei şi Sucevei 1—2 (1986), pp. 46—-58.
Dură N.V.: “Episcopul Romei şi statutul său canonic. Scaunul apostolic al Romei şi procesul de refacere a unităţii creştine ecumenice” (The Bishop of Rome and his canonical status. The Apostolic See of Rome and the process of
restoring ecumenical Christian unity). In: Ortodoxia românească şi rolul ei în Mişcarea ecumenică. De la New Delhi la Porto Alegre 1961—2006. Vasiliana ’98, Iaşi 2006, pp. 89—118.
Dură N.V.: “Intercomuniune sau comuniune sacramentală? Identitatea eclezială şi unitatea în credinţă” (Intercommunion or sacramental communion? Ecclesial identity and unity in faith). Ortodoxia 4 (1988), pp. 15—58.
Dură N.V.: “Mărturii ale Tradiţiei liturgico-canonice apostolice privind rugăciunea” (Testimonies of the Liturgical-Canonical Apostolic Tradition on Prayer). Studii Teologice 7—8 (1983), pp. 481—490.
Dură N.V.: “ ‘Povăţuiri’ şi ‘Învăţături”, cu conţinut liturgico-canonic, privind Sfânta Euharistie. Consideraţii eclesiologico-canonice” (“Advice” and “Teachings”, with liturgical-canonical content, on the Holy Eucharist. Ecclesiological-canonical considerations). In: Dimensiunea penitenţială şi euharistică a vieţii creştine. Coord. G. Petraru şi L. Petcu. Doxologia, Iaşi 2014, pp. 63—109.
Dură N.V.: “Rânduieli şi norme canonice privind administrarea Sfintei Euharistii” (Canonical ordinances and norms concerning the administration of the Holy Eucharist). In: Spovedania şi Euharistia izvoare ale vieţii creştine, II. Basilica, Bucureşti 2014, pp. 465—484.
Dură N.V.: “‚Regula de credinţă’ şi rugăciunea pentru unitatea creştină. O evaluare ecleziologico-canonică” (“The Rule of Faith” and the Prayer for Christian Unity. An ecclesiological-canonical evaluation). Ortodoxia 3—4 (2004), pp. 7—25.
Dură N.V.: “Relaţiile ecumenice actuale dintre Biserica Ortodoxă şi Biserica Romano-Catolică şi bazele lor ecleziologice” (The current ecumenical relations between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church
and their ecclesiological basis). Glasul Bisericii 9—12 (1983), pp. 625—633.
Dură N.V.: “Teologia ortodoxă şi teologiile confesionale în ecumenismul contemporan” (The Orthodox theology and confessional theologies in contemporary ecumenism). Ortodoxia 3 (1986), pp. 61—88.
Dură N.V.: “The ‘Petrine primacy’: the role of the Bishop of Rome according to the canonical legislation of the ecumenical councils of the first millennium, an ecclesiological-canonical evaluation.” In: The Petrine ministry: Catholics and Orthodox in dialogue: academic symposium held at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Ed. W. Kasper. New York, Newman Press, New York 2006, pp. 164—184.
Dură N.V.: “The Celebration of Holy Easter on the Same Date — an Eloquent Testimony to Our Unity in Diversity.” Ecumeny and Law 6 (2018), pp. 249—267.
Dură N.V.: “The Mariology of the Pre-Nicene Church. The Testimonies of Some Fathers and Theologians in the Greek and Latin Languages.” In: The Tradition of the Adoration of the Theotokos in the Orthodox Church.
Ed. D. Muskhelishvili. Nova Science Publishers, New York 2020, pp. 55—65.
Dură N.V.: “The Right to the Guarantee and Ensurance of Religious Freedom from The Statute for Religious Freedom of 1786 to the Declarations Issued during the UN Session of 2019.” Bulletin of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences 1 (2021), pp. 117—127.
Dură N.V., Mititelu C.: “Human rights and their universality. From the rights of the ‘individual’ and of the ‘citizen’ to ‘human’ rights.” In: Exploration, orme canonice privind Sfânta Euharistie. Consideraţii de doctrină canonică”
(Canonical ordinances and norms concerning the Holy Eucharist. Considerations of canonical doctrine). In: Dimensiunea penitenţială şi euharistică a vieţii creştine. Coord. G. Petraru, L. Petcu. Doxologia, Iaşi 2014, pp. 271—293.
Mititelu C.: “The ‘Globalization Era’ and the Right of the Church to Preach the Gospel to All Peoples. Canonical-Juridical Considerations and Assessments.” Ecumeny and Law 5 (2017), pp. 127—146.
Mititelu C.: “The application of Epitimias in the See of Confession according to the ‘Canonical Custom’ and the ‘Penitential Canons’.” Teologia Młodych 4 (2015), pp. 10—18.
Mititelu C.: “The celebrant of the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Rules and canonical norms of the Orthodox Church.” Annales Canonici 10 (2014), pp. 135—148.
Mititelu C.: “The Children’s Rights. Regulations and Rules of International Law.” Ecumeny and Law 3 (2015), pp. 151—169.
Mititelu C.: “The European Convention on Human Rights.” In: 10th Edition of International Conference The European Integration — Realities and Perspectives. Danubius University Press, Galati 2015, pp. 243—252.
Mititelu C.: “The Oikonomia and its application in the See of the Confession.” Analecta Cracoviensia 51 (2019), pp. 313—341.
Mititelu C.: “The Service of the Romanian Orthodox Church to Migrants.” Ecumeny and Law 9(1) (2021), pp. 45—66.
Mititelu C.: “The Typographer and Hierarch Anthim the Iberian, Successor of his Predecessors in the Promotion of Romanian Language and Culture.” Dionysiana 1 (2017), pp. 95—113.
Mititelu C.: “The Virgin Mary in the ‘Baptismal Symbols’ of the Pre-Nicene Church.” In: The Tradition of the Adoration of the Theotokos in the Orthodox Church. Ed. D. Muskhelishvili. Nova Science Publishers, New York 2020, pp. 7—18.
Pinto P.V.: Commento al codice di diritto canonico. Urbaniana University Press 1985.
Rediu I.: “Sfânta Fecioară Maria-icoană de adoratoare” (The Saint Virgin Maryicon of Adorers). In: Ca toţi să fim una. Studii și articole în onoarea PS Pentru Gherghel cu ocazia aniversării a 20 de ani de episcopat și 70 de ani de viaţă. Coord. A. Percă. Sapientia, Iași 2010, pp. 124—139.
Speed D.: “Reflecting on Ut unum sint.” In: A Celebration of Ut unum sint. The 25th Anniversary. Eds. D. Costache, D. Speed. Sydney 2020, pp. 53—54.
Ovidius University of Constanta Romania
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1175-5551
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The Copyright Owners of the submitted texts grant the Reader the right to use the pdf documents under the provisions of the Creative Commons 4.0 International License: Attribution-Share-Alike (CC BY SA). The user can copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose.
1. License
The University of Silesia Press provides immediate open access to journal’s content under the Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Authors who publish with this journal retain all copyrights and agree to the terms of the above-mentioned CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
2. Author’s Warranties
The author warrants that the article is original, written by stated author/s, has not been published before, contains no unlawful statements, does not infringe the rights of others, is subject to copyright that is vested exclusively in the author and free of any third party rights, and that any necessary written permissions to quote from other sources have been obtained by the author/s.
If the article contains illustrative material (drawings, photos, graphs, maps), the author declares that the said works are of his authorship, they do not infringe the rights of the third party (including personal rights, i.a. the authorization to reproduce physical likeness) and the author holds exclusive proprietary copyrights. The author publishes the above works as part of the article under the licence "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International".
ATTENTION! When the legal situation of the illustrative material has not been determined and the necessary consent has not been granted by the proprietary copyrights holders, the submitted material will not be accepted for editorial process. At the same time the author takes full responsibility for providing false data (this also regards covering the costs incurred by the University of Silesia Press and financial claims of the third party).
3. User Rights
Under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license, the users are free to share (copy, distribute and transmit the contribution) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) the article for any purpose, provided they attribute the contribution in the manner specified by the author or licensor.
4. Co-Authorship
If the article was prepared jointly with other authors, the signatory of this form warrants that he/she has been authorized by all co-authors to sign this agreement on their behalf, and agrees to inform his/her co-authors of the terms of this agreement.
I hereby declare that in the event of withdrawal of the text from the publishing process or submitting it to another publisher without agreement from the editorial office, I agree to cover all costs incurred by the University of Silesia in connection with my application.