Habemus Papam!
http://hilarion.ru/en/2010/02/26/1269
Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: Habemus Papam!
On the evening of 19 April 2005 I gave a lecture at the Catholic Theological Faculty of the
University of Fribourg (Switzerland). I began by saying a few words about Pope John Paul II
and his strong opposition to the secularism, liberalism and relativism prevailing in modern
Europe. In speaking about the current onslaught of militant secularism, which was the main
subject of my lecture, I insisted on the necessity for Catholics and Orthodox in Europe to form
a common front against it and to create a pan-European alliance of traditional Christianity in
order to defend spiritual values. Concluding my lecture, I expressed my hope that the new
Pope, whom the Conclave was to elect, would be as active an opponent of secularism and
liberalism as was John Paul II.
As soon as I finished, the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Barbara Hallensleben, took the floor
in order to announce the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Benedict XVI, the 265th
Pope of Rome. All participants at the meeting rose in order to thank the Lord for this election
and to say ‘Our Father’ together.
What do I, as an Orthodox bishop living and serving in Europe, expect from the new
pontificate?
First of all, that the Catholic Church continues to preserve its traditional doctrinal and moral
teaching without surrendering to pressures from the ‘progressive’ groups that demand the
ordination of women, the approval of the so-called ‘same-sex marriages’, abortion,
contraception, euthanasia etc. There is no doubt that Benedict XVI, who has already made his
positions on these issues clear, will continue to oppose such groups, which exist both within
the Catholic Church and outside it.
Secondly, I hope that the new pontificate is marked by a breakthrough in relations between
the Roman Catholic and the Russian Orthodox Churches, and that a meeting of the Pope of
Rome with the Patriarch of Moscow does take place. This meeting must be preceded by
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concrete steps in the direction of a better mutual understanding, and by careful elaboration of
a common position on major dividing issues.
I hope, next, that there will be a general amelioration in the relations between the Catholic
Church and the world Orthodoxy. In 2000 I represented the Moscow Patriarchate at the
session of the Joint Catholic-Orthodox Theological Commission, which discussed the
question of Uniatism. No agreement on this issue was reached, and the discussion, which was
full of frustration, disappointment and bitterness on both sides, ended without a clear decision
as to whether the work of the commission would ever be resumed. I hope that under the new
pontificate the commission starts again, or that a new commission for bilateral dialogue is
formed in order to discuss Uniatism, primacy and other theological and ecclesiological
questions which still divide our churches.
The work of the bilateral commission will not be an easy one and is likely to continue for
many years to come. My fear, however, is that by concentrating exclusively on the dividing
issues we are likely to lose precious time that could be used for a common witness to the
secularized world. Europe, in particular, has so rapidly dechristianized that urgent action is
needed in order to save it from losing its centuries-old Christian identity. I strongly believe
that the time has come for Catholics and Orthodox to unite their efforts and to defend
traditional Christianity, which is being attacked from all sides. In twenty, thirty of forty years
it may simply be too late.
This is precisely why I propose that a European Catholic-Orthodox Alliance is formed in
order for the official representatives of the two churches to be able to elaborate a common
position on all major social and ethical issues, and to speak with one voice. There is already
the Conference of European Churches, where the Orthodox work together with Protestants;
there is the COMECE, where Catholics discuss matters of pan-European importance among
themselves. But where is there a common Catholic-Orthodox forum? There are so many
striking similarities in our social and ethical doctrine: why can we not reveal them urbi et
orbi?
Perhaps it will be Benedict XVI who will accomplish the historic mission of bringing
Catholics and Orthodox together for the defence of Christianity against the challenge of
militant secularism.
