Folia Theologica et Canonica 11. 33/25 (2022)
Sacra theologia
POPE BENEDICT XVI AND THE GROWING ECUMENISM 17 church, he also states that “dialogue can deepen and purify the Catholic faith, but it would not be able to change it in its true content”.16 Joseph Ratzinger witnessed the development of Catholic ecumenism from his youth, through his time as a teacher, to his responsible position within the Roman Curia. At the same time, Vittorio Messori states that Ratzinger, as a true realist, is a hundred miles away from any pious optimism. The churches formed since the Reformation have been preserving their own belief system for half a century now, and it is natural that they do not want to change their own established beliefs. At the same time, there are changes in which Christians repent and confess their unfaithfulness to Christ. But, as Joseph Ratzinger explains, it will always be difficult, if not impossible, for a Protestant to accept the priesthood as a sacrament and an essential prerequisite for the sacrament of the altar. Because to accept this, they would have to accept the whole structure of the church, which is based on apostolic continuity.17 Joseph Ratzinger states without any doubt that the relationship with the Orthodox churches is fraternal, because the Eastern churches live the apostolic legal continuity, their Eucharist is also authentic, but they have not yet reached the acceptance that the Bishop of Rome, the Pope is the root and center of unity.18 In 1996, Joseph Ratzinger gave a report to Peter Seewald, in which his ecumenical realism is manifested: “We must first ask: What is possible? What can we hope for and what can we not hope for? And secondly: what is really good? I dare not hope for the absolute unity of Christianity within history.”19 The cardinal theologian, who refrains from making big statements, defines the importance of Christian witness in a changing world as a necessary minimum: “We must beware of utopian hopes. We have already done a lot if no more divisions arise, and if we realize that in the midst of division we can be united in many things. I don’t believe that we can reach a big “sectarian agreement” soon. It is much more important that we accept each other with great inner respect and even love, recognize each other as Christians, and try to give a joint witness to the world in important matters.”20 16 Ratzinger, J., Beszélgetés a hitről Vittorio Messorival, Budapest 1990.135 (the original Italian edition: Ratzinger, J., Rapporto sulla fede, Cinisello Balsamo-Milano 1984). 17 Ratzinger, J., Beszélgetés a hitről Vittorio Messorival, 140. 18 Ratzinger, J., Beszélgetés a hitről Vittorio Messorival, 141. 19 Ratzinger, J., A föld sója. Kereszténység és katolikus egyház az ezredfordulón. Beszélgetés Peter Seewalddal, Budapest 1997.197 (the original German edition: Ratzinger, J., Salz der Erde, Stuttgart 1996). 20 Ratzinger, J., A föld sója, 198.
