Pope Francis met with Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia in Havana airport’s VIP lounge for about three hours Friday, February 12, 2016. After a two-hour “brotherly” discussion, they signed a wide-ranging joint statement that discussed Christianity in Europe, the plight of Christians in the Middle East, and the need to resolve the division between the two churches. The two men concluded their joint statement by invoking the Virgin Mary, saying they needed her mercy to heal the wounds and point the way forward in uniting the two churches.
The two men met in Cuba because, to them, it is neutral territory from conflicts and issues that continue to separate the two communions. Cuba, they said, is also the crossroads between North and South, East and West. “By meeting far from the longstanding disputes of the “Old World,” the statement said, “we experience with a particular sense of urgency the need for the shared labour of Catholics and Orthodox, who are called, with gentleness and respect, to give an explanation to the world of the hope in us (cf.1Pet 3:15).”
While Cuba, a mostly Catholic country, has recently repaired its relationship with the United States, partly with the crucial secret assistance of Pope Francis, it also has long-standing ties with Russia, making the meeting between the pope and the patriarch something of a political statement as well as a religious one. The patriarch has supported President Putin’s air assault on ISIS in Syria while the pope has called for peaceful solutions. The meeting may give credibility to the Russian air campaign and align the pope with the Russian president.
The joint statement refers to their face-to-face meeting as a means of repairing long-standing conflicts and wounds between the two churches, and calls on the faithful of both communions to respect each other and seek to not compete.
The statement affirmed the Christian roots of Europe, a strongly political issue. It also addressed the family and marriage, condemning alternative forms of cohabitation and the perversion of marriage. It urges families to raise their children “Christian.” It also condemns abortion (without using the term), a further strongly political issue.
The statement also addressed migration, another strong political issue in Europe, Scandinavia, and the Americas, and calls on nations to be welcoming of migrants seeking a better life.
The statement also discussed religious freedom and the forces that undermine it, mentioning in particular western societies, where aggressive secularism has arisen and has created problems for Christians trying to live their convictions in the public square.
Perhaps one of the most significant points in the joint statement is that it also condemns proselytism. Recognizing the joint mission of Christians to proclaim the gospel of Christ, the statement says, “This mission entails mutual respect for members of the Christian communities and excludes any form of proselytism.
What does it mean to exclude any form of proselytism? The statement makes it clear. “Consequently, it cannot be accepted that disloyal means be used to incite believers to pass from one Church to another, denying them their religious freedom and their traditions.”
So, soul-winning and conversions from one Christian faith to another is not appropriate in the age of ecumenical “political correctness.” In other words, if you tell people that they are breaking God’s law by breaking the Sabbath and keeping Sunday, you are depriving them of their religious freedom and their traditions. If you tell people that the Bible is the only standard of faith, you are depriving them of their religious freedom and their traditions. Jesus said that true Christians are to go into all the world and make true disciples of Christ. Someone who doesn’t obey Christ, but holds to their own traditions, is not a true Christian at all, even if he identifies with a particular Christian denomination. Bringing him to the fullness of truth does not abridge his religious freedom.
And what of “disloyal means?” Any use of tactics or practices that would undermine the ecumenical movement, would be considered “disloyal means.” Home Bible studies for instance, in which the topics address the corruptions of Rome and seek to lead people to a full understanding of the love and truth of Christ would be considered to be disloyal means.
The lengthy meeting in Havana, which took two years of secret planning, comes as no surprise in light of Pope Francis’ concentrated efforts to bring churches together in ecumenical full, visible and sacramental communion. It gives Pope Francis one more diplomatic victory over long-standing disagreements and conflicts. Keep in mind; he has achieved much in the first few years of his pontificate. Firstly, he engineered the rapprochement between the United States and Cuba. Secondly, he has brought many Christian groups to Rome in ecumenical alliances including Pentecostals, Evangelicals, Jews and the Waldenses, among others. Thirdly, He has orchestrated a global climate deal that has never been achieved before. And now, he has met with Patriarch Kirill after nearly 1000 years of division, with the view to mend and restore their relationship.
Finally, the statement deplored the hostilities in the Ukraine, calling for peace and no further incitement to conflict.
“The Orthodox Church wonders after.” (See Revelation 13:3)
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