‘Finally, we are brothers’, Pope tells Orthodox Patriarch
“Finally, we are brothers,” Pope Francis declared in Havana on Friday, February 12, as he met Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. The two-hour meeting, culminating in the signing of a joint declaration, was the first time the leaders of Christianity’s two largest Churches have ever met.
Although there are many areas of serious disagreement between the Churches, the leaders discussed concrete proposals for working together, “because unity is made by walking”, according to the Pontiff. Even if the goal of full unity is not reached in this lifetime, he said, “at least when the Lord comes, he’ll find us walking”.
Impetus for the meeting arose due to the threat to Christianity in the Middle East, and the two leaders called on the international community “to act urgently in order to prevent the further expulsion” of Christians, to end violence and terrorism and to ensure that large amounts of humanitarian aid reach the victims of violence”.
They spoke too of poverty, consumerism, abortion, euthanasia and threats to the Churches’ view of marriage.
Anatrella report on abuse is not a set of new guidelines
An address to new bishops during a Vatican-sponsored course should not be interpreted as representing new guidelines on how to respond to allegations of abuse, the Vatican has said.
A 44-page report by Msgr Tony Anatrella detailed bishops’ duty to open a canonical investigation as soon as possible into alleged abuse but said in countries where reporting was mandatory, it was “not necessarily up to” the bishop to report to civil authorities as soon as he has learned of an accusation, with responsibility for this lying with the alleged victim and/or the family.
In a February 12 interview, Msgr Anatrella clarified that on receipt of an abuse allegation, the bishop or his representative should “first encourage the minor-victim and his or her family to file a complaint with the police”, explaining that “if they do not, then it is up to the church authority to make a report”.
Leaders can help the healing
Pope Francis has expressed the hope that Iraq and other war-torn countries will have leaders strong enough to reunite divided peoples. The Pope’s comments came during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, in which he said he wished the whole world could have leaders like him. The prime minister also held private talks with top officials of the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Discussions covered “the life of the Church in the country” and “the situation of Christians and ethnic and religious minorities with particular reference to the importance of their presence and the need to protect their rights”, the Vatican said in a statement.
The statement emphasised “interreligious dialogue and the responsibility of religious communities in promoting tolerance and peace”, making mention of “the importance of the reconciliation process between the various social sectors within the country”.
Jubilee year has implications
Jubilee years have serious social implications, Pope Francis has said. Recalling at his February 10 general audience in St Peter’s Square that in the Book of Leviticus, jubilee years entail the forgiveness of debts, the freedom of indentured servants and special generosity toward the poor and strangers, the Pontiff described the jubilee as “a kind of ‘general amnesty’, which permitted everyone to return to their original situation with the cancellation of every debt, the restitution of land and the possibility of enjoying once again the freedom proper to members of the people of God”.