The Bishop of Rome, servant of unity

Vatican News

The Bishop of Rome is a document of the Dicastery for Christian Unity which brings together the fruits of ecumenical dialogues on the ministry of the Pope in response to the invitation launched by Pope John Paul II almost thirty years ago, following the progress made since the Council. . The objective is to seek a form of exercise of primacy which is shared by the Churches which lived in full communion during the first centuries. Although “not all theological dialogues have treated the subject at the same level or with the same depth”, it is possible to indicate some “new approaches” to the most controversial theological questions.

Reread the Petrine texts

One of the fruits of the theological dialogues is a renewed reading of the “Petrine texts”, which have historically become an obstacle to unity among Christians. “Dialogue partners were challenged to avoid anachronistic projections of later doctrinal developments and to reconsider Peter's role among the apostles. » For example, “a diversity of images, interpretations and models in the New Testament have been rediscovered, while biblical notions such as episkope (the supervisory ministry), diakoniaand the concept of “Petrine function”, contributed to developing a more complete understanding of the “Petrine texts”.

The origin of primacy

Another controversial issue is the Catholic understanding of the primacy of the bishop of Rome as an institution of divine right, while most other Christians understand it only as an institution of human law. “Hermeneutical clarifications,” the document reads, have contributed to placing this traditional dichotomy “into a new perspective,” viewing primacy as relating to both divine and human right, i.e. “both part of God's will for the Church and mediation by human history.

“The dialogues instead emphasized the distinction between the theological essence and the historical contingency of primacy” and called for “greater attention and evaluation of the historical context that has conditioned the exercise of primacy in different regions and periods”.

The First Vatican Council

“The dogmatic definitions of the First Vatican Council constitute a significant obstacle for other Christians. Some ecumenical dialogues have made promising progress when they have undertaken a “re-reading” or “re-reception” of this Council, opening new avenues for a more precise understanding of its teaching…in light of their historical context” and of the teaching of Vatican II. This made it possible to clarify the dogmatic definition of universal jurisdiction of the Pope, “by identifying its extension and its limits”.

Likewise, it became possible “to clarify the formulation of the dogma of infallibility and even to agree on certain aspects of its purpose, recognizing the necessity, in certain circumstances, of a personal exercise of the teaching ministry , given that the unity of Christians is a unity. in truth and in love.

Despite these clarifications, the document recognizes, “the dialogues still express concerns regarding the relationship of infallibility with the primacy of the Gospel, the indefectibility of the entire Church, the exercise of episcopal collegiality and the need to home “.

A ministry for the reconciled Church

Many theological dialogues have recognized “the need for a ministry of unity on a universal level… Referring to apostolic tradition, some dialogues maintain that, from the early Church, Christianity was established in major apostolic sees occupying a specific order, the seat of Rome being that of Rome. the first one.”

Some dialogues “have argued that there is a mutual interdependence of primacy and synodality at every level of Church life: local, regional, but also universal. Another argument, of a more pragmatic nature, is based on the contemporary context of globalization and missionary requirements.”

“Some dialogues have highlighted that there is a mutual interdependence between primacy and synodality at all levels of the life of the Church: local, regional, but also universal. Another argument in favor, of a more pragmatic nature, concerns the contemporary context of globalization and missionary needs.

Furthermore, “certain criteria of the first millennium” were “identified as points of reference and sources of inspiration for the acceptable exercise of a ministry of unity at the universal level, such as: the informal character – and not essentially jurisdictional – expressions of communion between the Churches; the “primacy of honor” of the Bishop of Rome” and “the interdependence between the primatial and synodal dimensions of the Church”.

Primacy and synodality

Many dialogues recognize, however, that “the first millennium of Christian history…should not be idealized or simply recreated,” in part “because primacy at the universal level should respond to contemporary challenges.”

“Some principles for the exercise of primacy in the 21st century” were also identified. “A first general agreement is the mutual interdependence of primacy and synodality at each level of the Church, and the resulting requirement for a synodal exercise of primacy.”

“Another agreement concerns the articulation between… the “community” dimension based on the sensus fidei of all the baptized; the “collegial” dimension, expressed in particular in episcopal collegiality; and the “personal” dimension expressed in the primatial function.

Furthermore, “the crucial issue is the relationship between the local Church and the universal Church, which has important consequences for the exercise of primacy. The ecumenical dialogues have helped to reach agreement on the simultaneity of these dimensions, emphasizing that it is not possible to separate the dialectical relationship between the local Church and the universal Church.

The role of episcopal conferences

“Many dialogues emphasize the need for a balance between the exercise of primacy at the regional and universal level, emphasizing that in most Christian communions the regional level is most relevant for the exercise of primacy and also for their missionary activity. Certain theological dialogues with Western Christian communions, noting an “asymmetry” between these communions and the Catholic Church, call for a strengthening of Catholic episcopal conferences, including at the continental level, and for a continued “decentralization” inspired by the model of the 'Catholic Church. ancient patriarchal churches.

Traditions and subsidiarity

The importance of the principle of subsidiarity – the idea that “whatever can be handled properly at a lower level should be taken to a higher level”

“Some dialogues apply this principle to define an acceptable model of “unity in diversity” with the Catholic Church. They argue that the power of the Bishop of Rome should not exceed that required for the exercise of his ministry of unity on a universal level, and suggest a voluntary limitation in the exercise of his power – while recognizing that he will need a sufficient amount of powers. authority to meet the many complex challenges and obligations associated with his ministry.

Practical suggestions

“A first proposal is a 'reception,' a 'reinterpretation,' an 'official interpretation,' an 'updated commentary' or even a Catholic 'recasting' of the teachings of Vatican I” which could involve “new expressions and faithful vocabulary with the original intention but integrated into a Communion ecclesiological and adapted to the current cultural and ecumenical context.

Some dialogues have suggested that a “clearer distinction” be made “between the different responsibilities of the Bishop of Rome, notably between his patriarchal ministry in the Western Church and his primatial ministry of unity in the communion of Churches “. There have also been calls for “greater emphasis on the exercise of the Pope’s ministry in his own particular Church, the diocese of Rome…”

“A third recommendation… concerns the development of synodality within the Catholic Church. In particular, “a deeper reflection on the authority of national and regional Catholic episcopal conferences, their relations with the Synod of Bishops and with the Roman Curia” was requested. “At the universal level”, the dialogues “underline the need for better involvement of all the People of God in synodal processes”.

A final proposal involves “the promotion of 'conciliar communion' through regular meetings between Church leaders at a global level” and the promotion of “synodality between the Churches… through regular consultations and action and a common testimony.

You can find the full text of The Bishop of Rome on the website of the Dicastery for the Service of Christian Unity.