DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ORTHODOX & ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES CONCLUDES DELIBERATIONS IN JORDAN
On the afternoon of Monday, the 9th/22nd of September 2014, the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches marked the conclusion of its deliberations at the Landmark hotel in Amman, where the Patriarchate of Jerusalem had hosted seventy participants representing both Churches.
In officially closing the meeting, His Beatitude Theophilos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, praised all delegates, the esteemed clerics and the two professors, for their copious work, and expressed the wish that the dialogue continue towards the rapprochement of the two Churches and unity in faith.
Before the closing ceremony, the Co-Presidents of the Dialogue, the Most Reverend Metropolitan John of Pergamos and the Commission’s Secretary-General, Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima, on behalf of the Orthodox – and Cardinal Kurt Kock met in private with His Beatitude, before welcoming His Royal Highness, Prince Ghazi.
Cardinal Kurt Koch and Metropolitan John of Pergamos proceeded to welcome all participants, whereas Prince Ghazi thanked the Patriarchate of Jerusalem for hosting the Dialogue. The Prince went on to add that adversities must not let us down. Though small in size, Jordan is big in its vision and conviction for peace and justice. The Dialogue does not promise to solve the great schism, but what is important is that it carries on, twenty years after it first began, on the Lord’s Baptismal Site, the dawn of Christianity.
In His turn, the Patriarch of Jerusalem extended thanks to the Jordan Government and the King of Jordan for hosting the beginning of the Theological Dialogue in Jordan, an indisputable part of the Holy Land. Thanks to Prince Ghazi were also extended by Metropolitan John of Pergamos.
After the pause, the representatives of the two Churches carried on their deliberations for the completion of the final text for this Meeting’s topic, namely “Synodality and Primacy”.
On the conclusion of the Meeting, all participants were hosted to dinner offered by the Patriarch of Jerusalem at a restaurant in Amman.
On the following day, Tuesday the 10th/23rd of September, His Beatitude met with His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi in the morning. In the afternoon he convened with the Advisory Committee at the Bishopric on matters of concern to the flock.
The final communiqué of the Commission may be read here:
https://en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/2014/09/24/9123
From the Secretariat-General