On Sunday 19th December, in the presence of the community, the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa welcomed His Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch, on a brief visit to the Holy Land, to the Convent of St. Saviour, Jerusalem, the home of the Custody of the Holy Land. Invited as Bishop of Basle (Swiss-German) on the inauguration of the new wing of the Baby Caritas Hospital in Bethlehem, Monsignor Koch was raised to cardinal on 20th November 2010. Since 1st July last, he has also been the chairman of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian unity, succeeding Cardinal Kasper, who had reached the age limit.
In this position, the Cardinal is also responsible for relations with Judaism. He was accompanied by Father Norbert Hofmann, S.D.B., secretary of the commission of religious relations with Judaism.
Received in the hall of the community, His Eminence asked for clarification regarding the role and mission of the Custody. The Custos made the presentation, whilst the Custody Vicar, Friar Artemio Vitores, added some observations.
The Cardinal then illustrated the work done by his department, explaining his mandate and the difficulty of an ecumenical dialogue on several fronts. He also explained that dialogue with Orthodoxy is conducted with 15 different Orthodox Churches and in each one of these there are ardent defenders of dialogue, but also ardent opponents, so that progress made with some can be slow in having repercussions at grassroots level “I would need a year to take the measurements of this reality.”
The Custos then explained how the Custody experiences practical ecumenism in the Holy Places, whether in sharing shrines with other Christian confessions or in the welcome given to Orthodox or Protestant pilgrims. After his presentation, His Eminence left time for dialogue with the community.
A few questions were asked about the point made by the Holy Father Benedict XVI in his recent book-length interview, “Light of the World” on the Jews whom the Pope prefers to call “our fathers in the faith” rather than “elder brothers” like his predecessor John Paul II. The Cardinal expressed his joy for this qualification: “Judaism is not a religion in parallel with Christianity, but its fundamental base.
It is rather a question of paternity. In addition, in the Bible, the perception of elder brother and younger brother is likely to create confusions in this dialogue.” His Eminence expressed the desire that the dialogue with Judaism becomes more firmly anchored to theology, when there is, on the other hand, the temptation to anchor it to diplomacy.
Another important question on the sacraments allowed going back to the difference in the dialogue between the Protestant Churches and Orthodoxy. The Cardinal summed up this difference in these words: “On the one hand, with the Orthodox, we have the same foundations of faith but not the same culture and on the other hand, we share with the Reformed Churches the same culture but not the same approach to the sacraments.” This dialogue could have continued and we hope that it will continue on future visits of His Eminence.
The visit ended with an exchange of gits and a word for each one from His Eminence.
Let us remember that the Holy Father Benedict XVI has named as the focal points of his pontificate ecumenism and in particular a rapprochement to Orthodoxy, as well as relations with other religions and Judaism first and foremost. Cardinal Koch has therefore been assigned a difficult task and the Custody ensures him of its prayers in this Holy Land.
Mab
In this position, the Cardinal is also responsible for relations with Judaism. He was accompanied by Father Norbert Hofmann, S.D.B., secretary of the commission of religious relations with Judaism.
Received in the hall of the community, His Eminence asked for clarification regarding the role and mission of the Custody. The Custos made the presentation, whilst the Custody Vicar, Friar Artemio Vitores, added some observations.
The Cardinal then illustrated the work done by his department, explaining his mandate and the difficulty of an ecumenical dialogue on several fronts. He also explained that dialogue with Orthodoxy is conducted with 15 different Orthodox Churches and in each one of these there are ardent defenders of dialogue, but also ardent opponents, so that progress made with some can be slow in having repercussions at grassroots level “I would need a year to take the measurements of this reality.”
The Custos then explained how the Custody experiences practical ecumenism in the Holy Places, whether in sharing shrines with other Christian confessions or in the welcome given to Orthodox or Protestant pilgrims. After his presentation, His Eminence left time for dialogue with the community.
A few questions were asked about the point made by the Holy Father Benedict XVI in his recent book-length interview, “Light of the World” on the Jews whom the Pope prefers to call “our fathers in the faith” rather than “elder brothers” like his predecessor John Paul II. The Cardinal expressed his joy for this qualification: “Judaism is not a religion in parallel with Christianity, but its fundamental base.
It is rather a question of paternity. In addition, in the Bible, the perception of elder brother and younger brother is likely to create confusions in this dialogue.” His Eminence expressed the desire that the dialogue with Judaism becomes more firmly anchored to theology, when there is, on the other hand, the temptation to anchor it to diplomacy.
Another important question on the sacraments allowed going back to the difference in the dialogue between the Protestant Churches and Orthodoxy. The Cardinal summed up this difference in these words: “On the one hand, with the Orthodox, we have the same foundations of faith but not the same culture and on the other hand, we share with the Reformed Churches the same culture but not the same approach to the sacraments.” This dialogue could have continued and we hope that it will continue on future visits of His Eminence.
The visit ended with an exchange of gits and a word for each one from His Eminence.
Let us remember that the Holy Father Benedict XVI has named as the focal points of his pontificate ecumenism and in particular a rapprochement to Orthodoxy, as well as relations with other religions and Judaism first and foremost. Cardinal Koch has therefore been assigned a difficult task and the Custody ensures him of its prayers in this Holy Land.
Mab