INTRODUCTION
Ecumenism refers to the different activities aimed at bringing about the unity of all Christians in the whole world. This is with a special addendum to Jesus’ prayer “that they may be one”. Thus division among Christians is a scandal. Ecumenical dialogues only bear fruit when carried out in a spirit of brotherly love. The spirit of ecumenism finds at the level of the local church a concrete expression, given the necessary need of the church to foster ecumenical councils, especially at the denominational level.
This short paper bothers on the history of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; their origin, purpose and structure as the major instrument of the Holy See for ecumenical matters.
ORIGIN OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN UNITY
To mark the Church’s formal and official commitment to ecumenical movement, the saintly Pope John XXIII, on the 5th of June 1960 established a Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity as a preparatory commission for the Vatican II council. Cardinal Augustine Bea was appointed the first president. Thus, the Christian unity is one of the offspring of the second Vatican council. It was a sole initiative of the saintly Pope John XXIII, stemming from his desire that the church should hold as a major concern, the involvement of the church in ecumenical movements. It was on this regard that he instituted the pontifical council for promoting Christian unity as the major and first instrument of the second Vatican council on ecumenical matters. This council for promoting Christian unity assists the second Vatican council, but not exclusively, in matters that bother on ecumenism and inter-religious affairs.
Initially, their function was to send out invitations to the other churches to send observers to the Vatican II council. However at the first week of the council, the pontiff placed the secretariat on the same level as the conciliar commissions. The secretariat was charged with preparing and presenting to the Vatican II council documents on ecumenism. Thus they came up with documents that included Unitatis redintegratio, Nostra Aetate, and Dignitatis humanae. The secretariat played a role in the formulation of the Dei Verbum which is promoting ecumenical collaboration for the translation and diffusion of Holy Scripture
The secretariat was confirmed a permanent dicastery of the Holy See by Paul VI In 1966. However, in 1988 Pope John Paul II changed the Secretariat into the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) in the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus.
STRUCTURE
The council for promoting Christian unity constituted part of the Roman Curia after the Vatican II. It works under the directions of a cardinal president assisted by a secretary, and is made up of two sections which deal on the one hand with Orthodox and Ancient Oriental Churches and with the Western Churches and Ecclesial Communities on the other hand. It functions in the light of the council’s decree on Ecumenism to promote the goal of Christian unity by engaging in ecumenical dialogue and collaboration with other Christians and ecumenical institutions. In doing this, they advance ecumenical formation and education within the Catholic Church, and also cultivate ecumenical partners.
FUNCTION
This Council functions in two ways: on one hand they promote within the Catholic Church an authentic ecumenical spirit according to the conciliar decree Unitatis redinntegratio. On the other hand, generally, they organize and oversee dialogues and ensure collaboration with other churches and world communions. It also cooperates with the world council of churches; working actively in areas that contribute to the promotion of Christian unity. They do this by strengthening the relationship with other churches and ecclesial communities. They equally name catholic observers for various ecumenical gatherings and invite fraternal delegates from other churches to major Catholic events.
CONCLUSION:
The concern for restoring unity involves the whole church, faithful and clergy alike. It extends to everyone, according to the talent of each, whether it be exercised in daily Christian living or in theological and historical studies. This concern itself already reveals to some extent the bond of brotherhood existing among all Christians, and it leads toward full and perfect unity, in accordance with what God in his kindness wills.
Divisions among the Christian denominations are denial of the Christ’s reconciling love on the cross. Thus the council for the promotion of Christian unity is a quest for ecumenical wholeness in the church of Christ. Therefore the belief in the visible unity that centered on the love of Christ for the church and his prayer ‘that they may be one’ is thus rekindled. It was as an instrument of the church to keep this ecumenical vision before the Disciples of Christ and the wider ecumenical movement.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_pro_20051996_chrstuni_pro_en.html
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