In a historic move on the eve of the Feast of St. Andrew, Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I signed a joint declaration reaffirming thier commitment to full communion between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The declaration, released November 29th, comes amid ongoing theological discussions seeking to bridge centuries-old divisions between the two branches of christianity and as global leaders increasingly call for faith-based contributions to peace efforts. Leaders emphasized shared foundational beliefs, particularly as articulated in the Nicene Creed, while acknowledging ongoing challenges and the urgent need for unity in a world beset by conflict.
Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I reaffirmed their commitment to achieving full communion between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches on November 29th, signing a joint declaration on the eve of the Feast of St. Andrew. The move signals continued dialogue between the two branches of Christianity, despite centuries of division, and comes at a time of global conflict and increasing calls for interfaith cooperation.
The declaration emphasizes that Christian unity is not solely the result of human effort, but a gift from God. Both leaders urged the faithful within their respective churches to earnestly pursue the prayer of Jesus: “That they all may be one” (John 17:21).
The leaders highlighted the significance of the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea the previous day, describing it as a moment of grace. The Council, convened in 325 AD, is considered a pivotal event in establishing foundational Christian beliefs. However, they stressed that the anniversary served not merely as a historical remembrance, but as an inspiration to remain open to the Holy Spirit, as it guided the Council of Nicaea, when addressing contemporary challenges.
Acknowledging the obstacles that remain in restoring full unity among all Christians – obstacles being addressed through theological dialogue – the declaration also affirmed the shared faith expressed in the Nicene Creed. This shared belief, they stated, is a source of salvation. They jointly affirmed that Jesus Christ is “God the Son, true God from true God, homoousios with the Father, who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate, and became man, was crucified, died and was buried, rose on the third day, ascended into heaven and will come again to judge the living and the dead.”
Following this reference to the Nicene Credo, the declaration explained that through the coming of God’s Son, humanity is introduced to the mystery of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, is called to become children of the Father and co-heirs with Christ. Because of this common confession of faith, the leaders stated, they can face shared challenges with mutual respect, bear witness to the faith proclaimed at Nicaea, and work together to find concrete solutions rooted in true hope.
The document expressed confidence that the observance of these significant anniversaries can inspire new and courageous steps toward unity, including the pursuit of a common celebration of Easter. Recalling the meeting between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras 60 years ago, Pope Leo XIV and Bartholomew I called on those still hesitant to engage in dialogue to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches, and encouraged the faithful to be witnesses to peace, reconciliation, and unity in the current historical context.
The joint declaration underscored the importance of dialogue, while also recommending the development of fraternal relationships, prayer, and collaboration in areas where cooperation is already possible as ways to foster closer ties.
The pursuit of Christian unity, the declaration continued, also includes a contribution to the promotion of peace among all nations. “Together we raise our voices, invoking over our world the divine gift of peace,” the leaders wrote. “Unfortunately, in many regions of the world, conflicts and violence continue to destroy the lives of many people. We urge those on whose shoulders lie civic and political responsibility to do everything possible to bring about an immediate end to the tragedy of war, and we ask all people of good will to support our plea.”
“In particular, we reject any use of religion and the name of God to justify violence,” the declaration emphasized. It also reiterated the importance of genuine interreligious dialogue for enabling people of different traditions and cultures to coexist peacefully. Therefore, all people of good will are called to work together to build a more just and supportive world, and to care for all of creation entrusted to us by God. Only in this way, the declaration stated, can humanity overcome indifference, the desire for domination, greed, and xenophobia.
Concluding, the joint declaration expressed deep concern about the current international situation, while affirming that hope remains. “God will not abandon humanity,” the document reads. “The Father sent his only Son to save us, and the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, gave us the Holy Spirit, so that we might participate in his divine life, preserving and protecting the sanctity of man. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we know that God is with us, and we experience this. Therefore, in our prayers, we entrust every person to God, especially those who live in need, suffer from hunger, experience loneliness or illness. We implore for each member of the family grace and blessing…”
