Nouvelles du 03 -02- 2009
Texte Pris sur le site AGENCE FIDES

VATICAN - Discours du Saint-Père à la Commission Mixte Internationale pour la Dialogue Théologique entre l’Eglise Catholique et les Eglises Orientales Orthodoxes : Le monde a besoin d’un signe visible du mystère d’unité qui lie les trois Personnes Divines, et qui nous a été révélé il y a deux mille ans avec l’Incarnation du Fils de Dieu »

Rome (Agence Fides) – Le 30 Janvier, le Pape Benoît XVI a reçu en audience, au terme de leur rencontre, les participants à la Réunion de la Commission Mixte Internationale pour le Dialogue Théologique entre l’Eglise Catholique et les Eglises Orientales Orthodoxes : « Au terme de cette semaine de travail intense, nous pouvons ensemble rendre grâces au Seigneur pour votre engagement ferme dans la recherche de la réconciliation et de la communion dans le Corps du Christ, qui est l’Eglise ».

« Le monde a besoin d’un signe visible du mystère d’unité qui lie les trois Personnes Divines, et qui nous a été révélé il y a deux mille ans avec l’Incarnation du Fils de Dieu… Notre communion par la grâce du Saint-Esprit dans la vie qui unit le Père et le Fils, a une dimension perceptible au sein de l’Eglise, Corps du Christ, ‘la plénitude de celui qui se réalise entièrement dans toutes les choses’ (Ephésiens 1, 23), et nous avons tous le devoir de travailler pour que cette dimension fondamentale de l’Eglise se manifeste au monde ».

Le Saint-Père a rappelé aussi avec satisfaction les pas accomplis durant cette rencontre : « Des pas importants ont été faits surtout dans l’étude de l’Eglise comme communion » ; en outre, « le fait que la dialogue se poursuive dans le temps et soit accueilli chaque année par un des différentes Eglises que vous représentez, est, par soi, un signe d’espérance et d’encouragement ». Invitant à se tourner vers le Moyen-Orient, le Saint-Père a déclaré : « Elles sont nécessaires et des plus urgentes des semences authentiques d’espérance dans un monde blessé par la tragédie de la division, du conflit, et de l’immense souffrance humaine »

Enfin, citant la récente Semaine de Prière pour l’Unité des Chrétiens, le Saint-Père a déclaré : « Saint Paul a été le premier grand défenseur et théologien de l’unité de l’Eglise. Ses efforts et ses luttes ont été inspirées par l’aspiration constante à maintenir une communion visible, non seulement extérieure, mais réelle et plénière, entre les disciples du Seigneur. C’est pourquoi, par l’intercession de Paul, je demande la Bénédiction de Dieu pour vous tous et pour les Eglises que vous représentez ». (S.L.)
(Agence Fides, 2 février 2009)

Fides AGENCY

VATICAN - The Holy Father tells members of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches: “The world needs a visible sign of the mystery of unity that binds the three divine Persons and, that two thousand years ago, with the Incarnation of the Son of God, was revealed to us.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – At the close of the Meeting held by the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received the participants in an audience on January 31. He began, saying: “At the end of this week of dedicated work we can give thanks together to the Lord for your steadfast commitment to the search for reconciliation and communion in the Body of Christ which is the Church.”

“The world needs a visible sign of the mystery of unity that binds the three divine Persons and, that two thousand years ago, with the Incarnation of the Son of God, was revealed to us... Our communion through the grace of the Holy Spirit in the life that unites the Father and the Son has a perceptible dimension within the Church, the Body of Christ, 'the fullness of him who fills all in all' (Eph 1:23), and we all have a duty to work for the manifestation of that essential dimension of the Church to the world.

Benedict XVI then expressed his delight at recalling that the meeting, “has taken important steps precisely in the study of the Church as communion. The very fact that the dialogue has continued over time and is hosted each year by one of the several Churches you represent is itself a sign of hope and encouragement.” Encouraging them to look to the Middle East, the Pope highlighted that “true seeds of hope are urgently needed in a world wounded by the tragedy of division, conflict and immense human suffering.”

In closing, the Pope recalled the recent Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which concluded with a ceremony in the Basilica of Saint Paul, saying that “Paul was the first great champion and theologian of the Church’s unity. His efforts and struggles were inspired by the enduring aspiration to maintain a visible, not merely external, but real and full communion among the Lord’s disciples. Therefore, through Paul’s intercession, I ask for God’s blessings on you all, and on the Churches and the peoples you represent.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 2/2/2009)

Complete text of the Holy Father's address, in English

Dear brothers in Christ,

I extend a warm welcome to you, the members of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. At the end of this week of dedicated work we can give thanks together to the Lord for your steadfast commitment to the search for reconciliation and communion in the Body of Christ which is the Church.

Indeed, each of you brings to this task not only the richness of your own tradition, but also the commitment of the Churches involved in this dialogue to overcome the divisions of the past and to strengthen the united witness of Christians in the face of the enormous challenges facing believers today.

The world needs a visible sign of the mystery of unity that binds the three divine Persons and, that two thousand years ago, with the Incarnation of the Son of God, was revealed to us. The tangibility of the Gospel message is conveyed perfectly by John, when he declares his intention to express what he has heard and his eyes have seen and his hands have touched, so that all may have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Jn 1:1-4). Our communion through the grace of the Holy Spirit in the life that unites the Father and the Son has a perceptible dimension within the Church, the Body of Christ, "the fullness of him who fills all in all" (Eph 1:23), and we all have a duty to work for the manifestation of that essential dimension of the Church to the world.

Your sixth meeting has taken important steps precisely in the study of the Church as communion. The very fact that the dialogue has continued over time and is hosted each year by one of the several Churches you represent is itself a sign of hope and encouragement. We need only cast our minds to the Middle East - from where many of you come - to see that true seeds of hope are urgently needed in a world wounded by the tragedy of division, conflict and immense human suffering.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has just concluded with the ceremony in the Basilica dedicated to the great apostle Paul, at which many of you were present. Paul was the first great champion and theologian of the Church’s unity. His efforts and struggles were inspired by the enduring aspiration to maintain a visible, not merely external, but real and full communion among the Lord’s disciples. Therefore, through Paul’s intercession, I ask for God’s blessings on you all, and on the Churches and the peoples you represent.