About a year ago I was having a rather good lunch with some Episcopal clergy buds when the conversation turned to the relationship between Anglicanism and Orthodoxy. One of these fine priests mentioned how apparently Pope Benedict XVI without much fanfare had dropped the title “Patriarch of the West” – so that now he is merely(?) bishop of Rome. Thereby removing a possible obstacle to reunification with the Eastern Church(es). I thought, Cool.
Perhaps our optimism was premature. This week I have been listening to some lectures from the recent conference “Rome, Constantinople, and Canterbury – Mother Churches?” at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary which included Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican scholars discussing some of the issues which divide these traditions and possible ways to re(?)unite.
Enter Metropolitan Kallistos Ware and his presentation on “Primacy and the Pope”. (His speaking voice alone is worth the download.) At one point he alluded to and discussed this issue of Pope Benedict XVI abandoning the “Patriarch of the West” title. Far from paving the way for unity with the East apparently this move was “greatly disturbing” to our Orthodox brethren.
The title “Patriarch of the West” actually helped – because then the pope could relate to Orthodox patriarchs as a fellow patriarch. But if that title were removed… it could imply that (a) patriarchs are not important and/or (b) they automatically fall under the authority of the bishop of Rome (as supreme pontiff). Since in the new scheme (which Benedict XVI may or may not agree with) there be only bishops and the pope. Ouch.
I just thought that was interesting. Some saw the change as representing Rome moving closer to Constantinople. But the Orthodox see it quite differently.
Listen to the whole thing here. If nothing else it will exercise your brain – and your knowledge of ecclesiology – for an hour. Do keep in mind the summaries above are mine and may not be entirely correct.
