For the sake of the Second Vatican Council's call for Christian Unity, the new Pope needs to be a "traditionalist"

Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow and All Russia
From the website of the President of
the Russian Federation. Published under a
Creative Commons licence
(source: Wikimedia Commons)

Recently, I was fortunate enough to attend the Divine Liturgy of St James, which was celebrated by an Orthodox Metropolitan (not the one pictured). It was a wonderful experience – a far cry from the banal and desacralized liturgies that many (if not most) Latin Rite Catholics now have to endure. Not only did I truly feel that ‘peace which surpasses all human understanding’ when the sub-deacon shared the pax (known as the ‘holy kiss’) with me, but I also experienced a greater understanding of the Mysteries than I have ever known before – the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus Christ was set before my eyes in an indescribable way. It was a blessed, sacred, and profoundly eternal moment. It made me stop and think.

Second Vatican Council and Christian Unity

I don’t often read the documents of the Second Vatican Council. In fact, I’m not really given to reading the texts of most Church councils and synods -- I find it difficult to concentrate for a minute, let alone the hour or so it takes to read ecclesiastical documents! But I have read Vatican II’s Unitatis Redintegratio – its Decree on Ecumenism, dated 21 November 1964. This document starts by announcing that the ‘restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council’ and then goes on to explain why: -

Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only. However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided. Such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature.

But the Lord of Ages wisely and patiently follows out the plan of grace on our behalf, sinners that we are. In recent times more than ever before, He has been rousing divided Christians to remorse over their divisions and to a longing for unity. Everywhere large numbers have felt the impulse of this grace, and among our separated brethren also there increases from day to day the movement, fostered by the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the restoration of unity among all Christians.

The Decree on Ecumenism also highlights the different sorts of separation that exist between the various Churches, communions and / or ecclesial communities. Basically, Unitatis Redintegratio teaches that there are ‘two principal divisions which affect the seamless robe of Christ.’ The first sort is between the Catholic Church and ‘those of the East’, by which are meant those Churches that, ‘although separated [from the Catholic Church, and sometimes each other] … [still] possess true sacraments, above all – by apostolic succession – the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still enjoined to [the Catholic Church] in closest intimacy.’ The second sort of division exists between the Catholic Church and those ‘communities which were separated from the Apostolic See of Rome during the grave crisis that began in the West at the end of the Middle Ages or in later times’ -- i.e., Protestants and some others, such as the Old Catholics.

The relationship which exists between the Catholic Church and the Reformation-era ‘Churches and ecclesial communities’ of the West does not favourably compare with the one that exists between the Catholic Church and the [Orthodox] Churches of the East. As the document says: -

…since these [Western / Protestant] Churches and ecclesial Communities, on account of their different origins, and different teachings in matters of doctrine on the spiritual life, vary considerably not only with us, but also among themselves, the task of describing them at all adequately is extremely difficult; and we have no intention of making such an attempt here.

Although the ecumenical movement and the desire for peace with the Catholic Church have not yet taken hold everywhere, it is our hope that ecumenical feeling and mutual esteem may gradually increase among all men.

Although wanting to see an end to the schisms and errors of the 16th century, Unitatis Redintegratio is a realistic document. It seems to imply that the main work of Christian unity must be the reconciliation of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches (as well as some old Catholic groups) with the Church of Rome. If the Catholic Church cannot achieve unity with those Churches she recognises and values -- the Orthodox Churches -- then what hope is there for unity with those many sects that seem so diverse that no-one is sure what they believe?

The Eastern Churches are to be praised 

Because the Church knows that Christian unity is an urgent matter of grave importance, Unitatis Redintegratio is full of praise for the Orthodox Churches (especially the ancient and sacred liturgies of the East). Though desiring unity with all Christians, even Protestants, the document seems to indicate that the Catholic Church and the See of Peter feels a greater urgency in its longing for full ecclesial unity between East and West.

This desire for visible communion between the Eastern and Western Churches was a primary concern of John Paul II’s pontificate. In fact, in ecclesiastical terms, Blessed John Paul saw it as a matter of life and death, so to speak – reiterating his idea in his encyclical on ecumenism, Ut Unum Sint, that until full unity is achieved between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, the whole universal Church would be sick, and would not be able to breathe properly, i.e. ‘with both her lungs’.

Benedict XVI -- Pope of Christian Unity

Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria
Author unknown
(source: Wikimedia, via Egyptian Wikipedia)

During the pontificate of Benedict XVI, relations between various Churches and communions and the Catholic Church have greatly improved. In fact, many Catholic commentators refer to the former pope as ‘The Pope of Christian Unity’ -- mainly due to the way he received so many Anglicans into the full communion of the See of Rome (through the creation of special 'Anglican' Ordinariates).

More importantly, though, Benedict XVI developed a great bond of trust and friendship between many Eastern Patriarchs and his own Apostolic See -- including the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, whom he met on a few occasions. The friendship that now exists between Moscow and Rome -- unimaginable only a few years ago -- also bears witness to Benedict XVI’s desire (like his predecessor's) to see the ‘two lungs’ of the Church breathing as one. It is also worth noting that in response to Benedict XVI's resignation, even the Coptic Pope Tawadros II (pictured) recently said that he was "proud of the Roman Pope", noting his "dialogue and his love, wisdom and high theological stature, as well as his participation with us, the Eastern churches, in all occasions."

Modernism -- a stumbling block to visible Unity

In speaking over the years with various members of the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches, it appears to me that a great stumbling block they have when it comes to reunification is a liturgical one. Catholicism in recent times seems, liturgically speaking at least, to have moved away from the great traditions of the Church. An Orthodox man once asked me, ‘Is it true that Roman Catholic priests now face the people?’ When I said that, unfortunately, this was usually now the case, the poor man looked horrified! Many Orthodox cannot understand why the Catholic Church has abandoned her rich liturgical heritage for what seems to have been a misguided desire to appear more palatable to Protestants.

Both the modernising trends in Catholic preaching and teaching, as well as the banal ‘progressive’ desacralizing of the Roman Rite, has made many Orthodox Christians wary of reunification – like wise souls, they do not want to be infected by something that appears, at best, to be diseased. Even Eastern Rite Catholics often express their shock at the way the Latin Rite seems to have divested itself of the sacred. As one Ukrainian Catholic priest put it to me: ‘We’d never let Vatican II destroy our liturgical heritage!’ Tradition attracts souls -- modernism seems to drive them away!

Traditionalism leads to real Unity

Benedict XVI was seen as a ‘traditionalist’ by many Eastern Christians, including men such as the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill I. The former Pope was a man with whom many Orthodox leaders (Oriental and Eastern) could work – he was viewed as someone who, like them, took liturgical and moral holiness seriously. He was a Bishop of Rome who stood up to secularism and the madness of modern Western 'morality', whilst also promoting beauty and holiness in the Roman Rite.

Soon after Benedict XVI’s resignation, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow sent a telegram to the Pope Emeritus, in which he said:-

We have always held dear your consistent position characterized by uncompromising stand in the questions of faith and commitment to the living church tradition. In an age when the ideology of all-permissiveness and moral relativism tries to force moral values out of people’s life, you boldly raised your voice in the defense [sic] of the Gospel’s ideal, the lofty dignity of human beings and their calling to freedom from sin.

It is with warmth that I remember our meetings before your election to the chair of Rome. In the years of your pontificate, a good development was given to relations between our Churches who bear a great responsibility for common witness to Crucified and Risen Christ in the modern world. I sincerely hope that good and confidential relations established with your active participation will develop under your successor.

Metropolitan Hilarion: For the sake of Unity, the Pope must be a traditionalist

It was also reported (see Rorate Caeli) that Metropolitan Hilarion, who heads the Russian Orthodox Church’s Department for External Church Relations, and who had an excellent working relationship with Benedict XVI, recently gave an interview during which the imminent Conclave was discussed. In that interview, the Metropolitan said that for the sake of Christian unity he hoped that the new Pope would be a “traditionalist”. 

Through men like Hilarion and his Patriarch, Kirill, a clear message is being sent to Rome, namely that if the Catholic Church is serious about the reunification of the ancient Churches, then the next Pope must continue the work of Benedict XVI. The next Bishop of Rome must be a promoter and guardian of ‘the splendour of truth and the beauty of holiness’, both in the way the Church preaches the Gospel and worships Almighty God.

We need another Pope like Benedict XVI

For the sake of Christian unity, that most pressing concern of our times as expressed by the Second Vatican Council, we should spend the next few days earnestly praying for a Pope who will be a true successor to Benedict XVI. We need a man who will restore the sacred in continuity with our heritage and traditions, who will fearlessly preach the Gospel in this aggressive age of relativism, and who will reform the Church so that she is reoriented to Christ, and to the East (in more ways than one)! Now is the time for the Church to start using both her lungs in the way she breathes! For that to happen, a 'traditionalist' Pope is a must!

In light of a cross the Lord has been pleased to give me and so as to maintain peace during the election of a new Pope, I will not be blogging for a few days. 

Please pray for a new Pope, and for the unity of the ancient Churches of East and West!  

Come Lord Jesus, do not delay!