Pontifical Council For Promoting Christian Unity

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is a department of the Roman curia founded following the Second Vatican Council whose aim is to contribute to ecumenism. Its first president was Agostino Bea , appointed by Pope John XXIII.

The board is divided into two sections: one for community relations of the Reformation and one for the particular Churches of the East. In Pastor Bonus , Pope John Paul II transformed the secretariat in the pontifical council.

Cardinal Kurt Koch is the current chair while Bishop Brian Farrell is his secretary. It encourages dialogue in the spirit of Unitatis Redintegratio and maintains a cordial relationship with the World Council of Churches.

History

The origin of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is closely linked to the council called " Vatican II ". Pope John XXIII wanted the commitment of the Catholic Church in the contemporary ecumenical movement is one of the main goals of the Council. Therefore, 5 June 1960, he created a Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity as one of the preparatory committees and the Council has appointed as its first president Cardinal Augustin Bea. This is the first time the Holy See put in place a structure dedicated solely to matters ecumenical.

The first function of the Secretariat was first to invite other Churches and World Communions to send observers to the Second Vatican Council. But from the first session (1962), by decision of Pope John XXIII, he was likened to conciliar commissions. The Secretariat then prepared and presented to Council documents on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio), Non-Christian Religions ( Nostra Aetate ) and, in conjunction with the Doctrinal Commission The Dogmatic Constitution on the "Divine Revelation" ( Dei Verbum ).

In 1963, the Holy Father said that the Secretariat would consist of two sections dealing respectively relations with the Orthodox Churches and the ancient Eastern Churches on the one hand and on the other hand, with the Churches and Ecclesial Communities of the West.

In 1966, the Council is completed, Pope Paul VI confirmed the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity as a permanent organ of the Holy See. Cardinal Bea was chaired until his death in 1968. In 1969, Cardinal Johannes Willebrands was appointed to succeed him. Twenty years later he retired and became chairman emeritus, Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy was then appointed president of the Pontifical Council.

It is by the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus of 28 June 1988 that Pope John Paul II transformed the Secretariat Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU), change became effective on ¹ March 1989.

Purpose

The Council has a dual function to promote ecumenism in the Church as well as with other Churches and World Communions.

Promotion of ecumenism in the Church

It is primarily responsible for promoting, within the Catholic Church, an authentic ecumenical spirit according to Decree Unitatis Redintegratio, it is for this that the Ecumenical Directory was published in 1967-1970 and renewed in 1993 under the title: "Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism" . The Board assumes this task in conjunction with the various departments of the Roman Curia, whose skills must also contribute to the effort of dialogue of the Catholic Church and be made available to its relations with all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities.

Promotion of dialogue and collaboration with other Churches and World Communions

At the same time, the Pontifical Council also seeks to develop dialogue and collaboration with other Churches and World Communions. Also, since its inception, it has established a cordial cooperation with the World Council of Churches (WCC), whose headquarters are in Geneva , since 1968, twelve Catholic theologians are full members of the Commission on Faith and Order, "Department theological WCC. It is also the name of PCPCU Catholic observers at various ecumenical gatherings and in turn invite observers or "fraternal delegates" of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities on the occasion of major events in the Catholic Church. Right now, the PCPCU is engaged in international theological dialogue with the Churches and World Communions following:

• the Orthodox Church ,
• the Coptic Orthodox Church ,
• the churches Malankare ,
• the Anglican Communion ,
• the Lutheran World Federation ,
• the World Alliance of Reformed Churches ,
• the World Methodist Council ,
• the Baptist World Alliance ,
• the Christian Church Disciples of Christ ,
• Heads of Churches Pentecostal.

The Council is also concerned with promoting meetings with evangelicals. To publicize as widely as possible the results of his efforts for Christian unity, the PCPCU published in French and English, a quarterly journal entitled Information Service.

Structure

The Pontifical Council is headed by the cardinal president. He is assisted by a secretary, an assistant secretary and deputy secretary. Relations with other Churches and ecclesial communities are divided into two sections:

• the eastern section, for the Orthodox Churches of Byzantine tradition and the Eastern Orthodox Churches (Coptic, Syrian, Armenian, Ethiopian, Malankara) and the Assyrian Church of the East;
• the western section, for the different Churches and Ecclesial Communities of the West and the World Council of Churches.

Presidents

• Agostino Bea (1960-1968)
• Johannes Willebrands (1969-1989)
• Edward Idris Cassidy (1989-2001)
• Walter Kasper (2001-2010)
• Kurt Koch (since 2010)

Activities

Collaboration for distributing the Bible

Following the responsibility taken by the Secretariat in the preparation of the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, the PCPCU is responsible for promoting collaboration in the ecumenical translation of the Holy Scripture and its distribution ,). That's why it has spawned the creation of the Catholic Biblical Federation, with whom he is in close contact. With the United Bible Societies, has published guidelines on interfaith cooperation in the translation of the Bible .

The Catholic Committee for Cultural Collaboration

Founded in 1963, the Committee seeks to promote, between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches of Byzantine tradition and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, exchanges of students wishing to continue in Catholic and Orthodox institutions, studies in theology or in other ecclesiastical disciplines. An international committee of the award, depending on the Committee meets annually in March.

Relations with Judaism

On October 22, 1974, Pope Paul VI established a Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism , an organization separate but closely related PCPCU. Indeed, Cardinal President and the Secretary of PCPCU are respectively President and Vice-President, a full-time executive secretary with its operation. For the implementation of the guidance given by the Second Vatican Council, the Commission has issued guidelines and suggestions for the implementation of the conciliar declaration Nostra Aetate and Notes on the Correct Way to Present Jews and Judaism in the Preaching and Catechesis in the Catholic Church .

Notes

See also

Internal Links

• Decree Unitatis Redintegratio the council Vatican II
• Encyclical Ut unum sint of Pope John Paul II on ecumenism, May 25, 1995
• Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Assyrian Apostolic Church of the East
• Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches
• Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church
• Lutheran-Catholic Joint Declaration on Justification
• Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Ctibus

External Links

• Vatican website
• Nature and Purpose of Ecumenical Dialogue , A Study of the Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches (2005)

• Catholicism portal
• Vatican portal

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