Pope Leo XIV pledged to work to “pursue the path of unity and fraternal charity” in a meeting in Castel Gandolfo yesterday with Orthodox and Catholic clergy from the United States. Source: Crux.
The clergy on the pilgrimage “From Rome to New Rome” includes Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey among the 50 Greek Orthodox, Byzantine Catholic, and Latin Catholic pilgrims.
This year marks the 1700th Anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. The first Ecumenical Council took place in 325, and went against the Arian heresy, which denied the true divinity of Jesus Christ. This year also was one of the few where the Western Churches and Eastern Churches marked the same day as Easter Sunday.
Pope Leo said it was “significant” that the pilgrimage marks the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
“The Symbol of Faith adopted by the assembled Fathers remains – together with the additions made at the Council of Constantinople in 381 – the common patrimony of all Christians, for many of whom the Creed is an integral part of their liturgical celebrations,” the Pope said, adding it was “a providential coincidence” that on this year the two calendars in use by the Eastern Churches and Western Churches coincided on the day of Easter.
He also spoke about the split between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches that took place in 1054, where the Pope in Rome – coincidentally named Leo IX – and the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other.
Leo XIV told the pilgrims their visit was one of the “abundant fruits of the ecumenical movement aimed at restoring full unity among all of Christ’s disciples,” and noted that on December 7, 1965 – on the eve of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council – St Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras signed a Joint Declaration removing the sentences of excommunication that followed the events of 1054.
“For our part, we too must continue to implore from the Paraclete, the Consoler, the grace to pursue the path of unity and fraternal charity.”
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Pope Leo calls for ‘path to unity’ in meeting Orthodox and Catholic pilgrims from the US (By Charles Collins, Crux)
