Tuesday, October 12, 2004
New book on papal primacy coming out
The question of papal primacy has been one of the main problems in ecumenical dialogue, particularly with the Orthodox churches. The problem became more acute with the proclamation of papal infallibility by the First Vatican Council. During his visit to Rome in June of this year, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the leader of the Orthodox world, remarked: "It is necessary to speak in depth about the primacy of the Bishop of Rome, papal infallibility, the position of the Pope in the structure of the Christian Church in its totality, because this is the most difficult point in our relations, which still bars the way to full communion."
Official theological dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox churches has been suspended since the last meeting of a joint international theological commission, held in Baltimore in 2000. At that meeting, the main topic of controversy was the status of the Eastern Catholic churches, which the Orthodox are loath to accept.
Official theological dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox churches has been suspended since the last meeting of a joint international theological commission, held in Baltimore in 2000. At that meeting, the main topic of controversy was the status of the Eastern Catholic churches, which the Orthodox are loath to accept.
