Strong Papal Support for «Dominus Iesus»

VATICAN, Oct. 2, 00 (CWNews.com) - Responding to criticisms of Dominus Jesus-- the statement published on September 5 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith-- Pope John Paul II has emphasized that the document has his full approval, and that it should not be an obstacle to ecumenical dialogue.

After the canonization ceremonies held in St. Peter's Square on October 1, the Holy Father commented that during the Jubilee year in particular, «I wanted to invite all Christians to renew their adherence to Jesus Christ, in the joy of faith, bearing unanimous witness that he is-- today, tomorrow, and every day-- the way, the truth, and the light.»

The Church's insistence that Jesus Christ is the only path to redemption is not an arrogant claim, the Pope continued; it is merely an affirmation of the truth, as well as «a joyous recognition of what Christ has shown to us, through no merit of our own.» The Church, he went on, «continues to give what she has received, communicating to others what has been given to us-- so that the truth we have been given, and the love that is in God, can be brought to all mankind.»

«Along with the apostle Peter, we make our confession of faith, that there is no salvation in any other name,» John Paul said. He explained that Dominus Jesus-- following the teaching of Vatican II-- does not claim that non-Christians cannot be saved; rather the Church teaches that all salvation flows through Christ, and thus through his Mystical Body which is the Catholic Church.

The purpose of the new Vatican document, the Pope said, is to clarify the basis for ecumenical dialogue. «A dialogue without foundation is destined to degenerate into plain verbosity,» he observed.

Christians of other denominations should also understand the purpose of Dominus Jesus, the Pope said. The document teaches, as a matter of faith, that the fullness of the means to salvation can be found only in the Catholic Church. But again this is not an arrogant claim; it is as statement of religious belief and «a sign of fidelity to God that is stronger than our human weaknesses and sins.»

The Pope also observed that «the Catholic Church suffers, as the document says, insofar as some true particular churches and ecclesial communities, which posses the precious elements of salvation, are separated from her.» That suffering, he explained, spurs the Catholic interest in ecumenical dialogue, which is intended to fulfill the prayer of Jesus Christ «Ut Unum Sint.»

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update