Pope Responds to Ukrainian Orthodox Opposition

VATICAN, Apr. 27, 01 (CWNews.com) - The Holy See has published the text of a message from Pope John Paul II to the Orthodox Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev, proposing a joint Catholic-Orthodox commission to resolve tensions between the two churches.

The Pope's letter, written on March 26, was conveyed to the Orthodox prelate by Cardinal Roberto Tucci, SJ, who handles advance planning for papal trips. It was a response to the message which Metropolitan Vladimir sent in January, in the name of the Ukrainian Orthodox bishops loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate, asking the Pontiff to postpone his plans for a June visit to Ukraine.

Pope John Paul writes that he would like to meet with Metropolitan Vladimir during his visit-which, the Vatican has made clear, will go ahead as scheduled on June 23- 27.

However, on his official web site, Metropolitan Vladimir has already announced that a meeting with the Pope would be "impossible." Metropolitan Vladimir-who is one of three different Orthodox prelates competing for recognition as the leader of the Orthodox faithful in Ukraine-says that he told Cardinal Tucci that he could not meet with Pope John Paul because the Orthodox synod opposes the papal visit.

One other leading Orthodox prelate, Patriarch Filaret of Kiev (who has renounced and been renounced by the Moscow Patriarchate), has indicated that he will welcome Pope John Paul. The Moscow Patriarchate, which supports Metropolitan Vladimir, has expressed fears that Pope John Paul would meet with another Orthodox prelate, but not with Metropolitan Vladimir. Such a move, the Russian Orthodox leadership suggests, would encourage the "schismatic" movements and impede ecumenical progress.

The Pope emphasizes that the purpose of his visit is to "meet the Ukrainian Catholics-very numerous and well established in the country-and confirm them in their faith." Tensions between Ukrainian Catholics and their Orthodox neighbors have been keen in recent years, especially since the fall of Communism allowed the Byzantine-rite Ukrainian Catholic Church to emerge from years of repression. Orthodox leaders-especially those who are recognized by the Moscow Patriarchate-have bitterly complained that Ukrainian Catholics are attempting to gain converts and seize church buildings in traditionally Orthodox areas. The Ukrainian Catholics respond that they are merely trying to reclaim the property that was confiscated by the Stalinist regime.

In Romania, similar conflicts between Orthodox and Catholic leaders, over properties seized by the Communist regime, have been largely resolved through the work of a joint commission, made up of delegates from each Church. In his message of Metropolitan Vladimir, Pope John Paul suggests a similar arrangement in Ukraine.

In fact, the Pontiff notes, the general outline for such a commission has already been approved, by representatives of the Holy See and the Moscow Patriarchate. In January 1998, Cardinal Edward Cassidy (the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity) and Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk (the chief ecumenical-affairs representative of the Russian Orthodox Church) agreed to set up such a group. But the implementation of their plan has lagged. The Pope now tells Metropolitan Vladimir that he hopes the group will be set to work "as soon as possible."

Catholic World News - Feature
27. april 2001