Fascinating coverage, this reporting of
the meeting and joint statement by Francis and Kirill I. Makes one wonder where
we go from here?
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/152daa359adcd689?projector=1
But if history and church are subjects
that put you to sleep, you’ll probably want to quit this blog now. I know I was
totally bored, as I remember, listening to the lectures of this period of
Church history in the Aula of Mt. St. Mary of the West, Cincinnati, though I received an uncharacteristic "B" for the course. Now since I’ve
lived to this age of 78, this kind of stuff gets me going. So here I write.
HISTORICAL QUESTION. . .
Is there's any thought of
"uncanonizing" the German reformer, Leo IX, who was nominated pope
by the German Emperor, Henry III? After all Leo started this division between
the West and East Church of the time by his excommunication of Michael
Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople, in 1054.
Other students of history will remember
that, earlier, Leo, after his election in 1049, had campaigned throughout
Europe—an extraordinary papal step at that time—to promote his agenda,
especially enforcing clerical celibacy, railing against simony and promoting
papal supremacy. And the quarrel between the two of them escalated to the point
of Leo leading a poorly equipped army against the Normans in Southern Italy, an
area claimed by Byzantium. His defeat made him a prisoner of war in 1053.
Cerularius was not recognized as a saint, his motto having been "I Will
Not Serve." He closed Latin churches in Constantinople, fulminating
against Latin Church liturgical practices like the use of unleavened bread at
mass. The attempt by Leo to free southern Italy exacerbated the situation. The
clash of these two strong-willed leaders led to Rome's excommunication of
Cerularius and, in turn, Leo's being declared anathema by the East.
COMMENTARY
Celibacy, simony and supremacy along
with liturgical practices are certainly an interesting juxtaposition of issues
over which to create an historic division in Christendom. Meeting of Francis
and Kirill in an island country once considered a threat to the democracy in
the Western Hemisphere, their signing a
30-paragraph joint policy statement
witnessed by married Eastern Rite clergy (and perhaps even married bishops) as
the two carry out pastoral visits in that hemisphere is an ominous event that
bodes well for the journey back to unity.
COMPARING NAMESAKES
Francis: According to most hagiographers, Francis
of Assisi, whose name Cardinal Bergolio took upon being named pope, had a vision
that spoke to him the words “. . . rebuild my house.” The poverello saw this as
a call to bring the Gospel message to wherever it was needed. He travelled across the Mediterranean during the “Albigensian Crusade,” or
Cathar Wars, that raged from 1209 to 1229. Francis landed at Damietta in
Egypt in 1219, arriving in the
crusader camp. Francis wanted no part in the war of Innocent III, but tried to
convince the crusaders to peace. Met with ridicule, he went over to preach to the
sultan, Al-Kamil.
According to many, the caliph was impressed with
this ill-clad European preacher as he had to other mystics of the time. An NCR article
by Sister Rose Pacatte says:
No one actually knows what was said
since Francis did not speak Arabic and the sultan didn't speak whatever
French-Italian dialect Francis used. It was their way of being together, the
attitude of mutual respect and understanding, as well as their belief in one
God, prayer, kindness to the poor, and peace that certainly appealed to both
men.
When Francis returned home, he even
amended the rule he had written for his brothers, saying that those who feel
called to go to Muslims should be allowed to do so. In 1272, a sultan allowed
the Franciscans to settle in the Cenacle in Jerusalem. In 1342, Pope Clement VI
named the Franciscans the custodians of the Holy Land "in the name of the
Catholic church."
Source: http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/recent-release-francis-and-sultan-documentary-perfect-timing
Kirill: The namesake he took upon being raised
to Patriarch is Cyril, one of the two brothers of great ninth century missionary
work. The work of Cyril and
Methodius influenced the cultural development of all Slavs, for which they
received the title "Apostles to the Slavs". They are credited with devising the Glagolithic, the
first alphabet used to transcribe Old Church Slavonic. The script became known as Cyrillic. After their deaths,
their pupils continued their missionary work among other Slavs. Both brothers
are venerated in the Orthodox Church as saints with the title of "equal-to-apostles". In 1880, Pope Leo XIII introduced their feast into the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1980, Pope John
Paul II declared them co-patron saints of Europe, together with Benedict of Nursia.
CONTRASTING FRANCIS
AND KIRILL I
One
is recognized as a humble leader who cares for the poor and has kissed the feet
of peasants.
The
other has been plagued by scandal and become an object of ridicule because of
his luxurious lifestyle, which includes an apparent penchant for pricey ski
vacations in Switzerland.
Interesting juxtaposition of personalities and events,
indeed. Where do we go from here?
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