Folia Theologica et Canonica 11. 33/25 (2022)

Sacra theologia

18

MIHÁLY KRÁNITZ

VI. An authentic Christian life is a condition for ecumenism

For Pope Benedict XVI the relationship with Christian churches at the level of theological discussions is necessary and essential. However, at the same time, repentance and reconciliation are also important. One of the visible signs of this was when in 2000 Pope John Paul II, who was also called the “pope of apologies”, solemnly asked pardon in Rome for the sins of Catholics against the unity of the body of Christ.21

In order to seek common relations and unity, on the day after his election, on April 20th, 2005, in the Sistine Chapel, Benedict XVI mentioned the words “purification of memory”, which is a prerequisite for all ecumenism: “Theological dialogue is important, but even more important is the purification of memory, to which he often referred John Paul II, because this alone prepares souls to receive the full truth of Christ”.22

Joseph Ratzinger was able to convey the mission of the church during his service as prefect and as Pope Benedict XVI. At the same time, he does not hide the fact that the completeness of the theology based on revelation is possessed by the Catholic Church alone (LG 8; Dominus Iesus, 17.). The Catholic ecumenical movement has already developed aspects of the search for spiritual unity for about six decades, but theological unity has yet to be found. The best chance for this is the relation with the Orthodox Church, and with the Anglicans connected to Rome, and after long theological discussions, it also exists with the Protestant churches.

21 See Homily of the Holy Father: „day of pardon” Sunday, 12 March 2000. https://www

. Vatican. va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/2000/documents/hfjp-ii_hom_20000312_pardon.html. “Let us forgive and ask forgiveness! While we praise God who, in his merciful love, has produced in the Church a wonderful harvest of holiness, missionary zeal, total dedication to Christ and neighbour, we cannot fail to recognize the infidelities to the Gospel committed by some of our brethren, especially during the second millennium. Let us ask pardon for the divisions which have occurred among Christians, for the violence some have used in the service of the truth and for the distrustful and hostile attitudes sometimes taken towards the followers of other religions.”

22 Cf. “Missapro Ecclesia”, the first message delivered in the Sixtine Chapel on April 20, 2005, n. 5: AAS 97 (2005) 694-699, especially 697-698. According to Eberhard Jüngel (1934-2021): “it is simply necessary to accept that differences belong to the richness of the church. The best ecumenical development is a return to the scriptural texts, from which both the Church and theology derive their catholicity”. See Wagner, H., Dienst an der Einheit. Eine historisch-teologische Reflexion über Papsttum, in Brandenburger, A. - Urban, H. J. (Hrsg.), Petrus und Papst - Evangelium - Einheit der Kirche - Papstdienst, Münster 1977. 84-94.