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Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity
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<h2 id="origins">Origins</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Pope_John_XXIII/M1vHj3p6">Pope John XXIII</a> wanted the <a href="/facts/Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Catholic Church</a> to engage in the contemporary <a href="/facts/Ecumenism/1Yyzv1zM">ecumenical movement</a>. He established a Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity (SPCU)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> on 5 June 1960 as one of the preparatory commissions for the council, and appointed <a href="/facts/Cardinalate/cqmS8R72">Cardinal</a> <a href="/facts/Augustin_Bea/J5DTmoNy">Augustin Bea</a> as its first president. The secretariat invited other churches and world communions to send observers to the council. </p><p>The Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity prepared and presented a number of documents to the council: </p> <ul><li>Ecumenism (<i><a href="/facts/Unitatis_redintegratio/b1C72hxd">Unitatis redintegratio</a></i>);</li> <li>Non-Christian religions (<i><a href="/facts/Nostra_aetate/nexAkBvM">Nostra aetate</a></i>);</li> <li>Religious liberty (<i><a href="/facts/Dignitatis_humanae/CHVpLdFt">Dignitatis humanae</a></i>);</li> <li>With the doctrinal commission, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (<i><a href="/facts/Dei_verbum/QXIH5yFL">Dei verbum</a></i>).</li></ul> <p>Following the council, in 1966 <a href="/facts/Pope_Paul_VI/4Dbb8sHs">Pope Paul VI</a> confirmed the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity as a permanent <a href="/facts/Dicastery/R7YE08sX">dicastery</a> of the <a href="/facts/Holy_See/7tK8AceC">Holy See</a>. </p><p>In the apostolic constitution <i><a href="/facts/Pastor_bonus/dDa8Vghp">Pastor bonus</a></i> (28 June 1988), <a href="/facts/Pope_John_Paul_II/Md3PoDuj">Pope John Paul II</a> renamed the secretariat the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. </p><p>The PCPCU has two sections dealing with: </p> <ul><li>The Eastern Churches - The Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches as well as the Assyrian Church of the East;</li> <li>The Western Churches and Ecclesial Communities and the <a href="/facts/World_Council_of_Churches/r5R99yde">World Council of Churches</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="purpose">Purpose</h2> <p>The dicastery has a twofold role: </p> <ul><li>The promotion within the <a href="/facts/Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Catholic Church</a> of an authentic ecumenical spirit according to the conciliar decree <i><a href="/facts/Unitatis_redintegratio/b1C72hxd">Unitatis redintegratio</a></i>;</li> <li>To develop dialogue and collaboration with the other churches and world communions.</li></ul> <p>Since its creation, it has also established a cordial cooperation with the <a href="/facts/World_Council_of_Churches/r5R99yde">World Council of Churches</a> (WCC). Twelve Catholic theologians have been members of the WCC's <a href="/facts/Faith_and_Order_Commission/wPThwXvI">Faith and Order Commission</a> since 1968. </p><p>The PCPCU is responsible for naming Catholic observers at various ecumenical gatherings and in its turn invites observers or "fraternal delegates" of other churches or ecclesial communities to major events of the Catholic Church. </p><p>At present, the PCPCU is engaged in an international theological dialogue with each of the following churches and world communions: </p> <ul><li>The <a href="/facts/Assyrian_Church_of_the_East/eekxn2Uv">Assyrian Church of the East</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a></li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Eastern_Orthodox_Church/5n20Akh5">Eastern Orthodox Church</a>;</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Oriental_Orthodox_churches/Hr4jF7La">Oriental Orthodox churches</a>;</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Indian_Orthodox_Church/sLc0bg11">Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church</a>;</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Anglican_Communion/N8l7GJUE">Anglican Communion</a>;</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/International_Lutheran_Council/3vG5466K">International Lutheran Council</a>;<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Lutheran_World_Federation/k78nPLWU">Lutheran World Federation</a>;</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/World_Alliance_of_Reformed_Churches/TpC27TmH">World Alliance of Reformed Churches</a>;</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/World_Methodist_Council/Vj7xdaM5">World Methodist Council</a>;</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Baptist_World_Alliance/TezS1MDX">Baptist World Alliance</a>;</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Christian_Church_(Disciples_of_Christ)/zmGKLk4o">Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)</a>;</li> <li>The <a href="/facts/World_Evangelical_Alliance/6YmkgsnM">World Evangelical Alliance</a>;</li> <li>Some[<i>which?</i>] <a href="/facts/Pentecostalism/mUAWLAz6">Pentecostal</a> groups.</li></ul> <h2 id="structure">Structure</h2> <p>Directed by a Cardinal President, assisted by a Secretary, a Joint Secretary, and an Under-Secretary. </p><p>Current leadership </p> <ul><li>President: <a href="/facts/Kurt_Koch/RbDITLBg">Kurt Koch</a>, 2010–</li> <li>Secretary: Flavio Pace, 2024–</li> <li>Under-Secretary: Andrea Palmieri</li></ul> <p>Presidents </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Augustin_Bea/J5DTmoNy">Augustin Bea</a> (6 June 1960 – 16 November 1968)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Johannes_Willebrands/1KoYJDX7">Johannes Willebrands</a> (12 April 1969 – 12 December 1989)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Edward_Cassidy/WHfdVb6F">Edward Cassidy</a> (12 December 1989 – 3 March 2001)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Walter_Kasper/SvIqgg7h">Walter Kasper</a> (3 March 2001 – 1 July 2010)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Kurt_Koch/RbDITLBg">Kurt Koch</a> (1 July 2010 – present)</li></ul> <p>Secretaries </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Johannes_Willebrands/1KoYJDX7">Johannes Willebrands</a> (28 June 1960 – 12 April 1969)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Jean_J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_Hamer/1Dpx8m2T">Jean Jérôme Hamer</a> (12 April 1969 – 14 June 1973)</li> <li>Pierre Duprey [de], M. Afr. (25 April 1983 – 16 March 1999)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Jean-Claude_P%C3%A9risset/1zEJt9AY">Jean-Claude Périsset</a> (16 November 1996 to 12 November 1998)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Walter_Kasper/SvIqgg7h">Walter Kasper</a> (16 March 1999 – 3 March 2001)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Marc_Ouellet/YwMElVIH">Marc Ouellet</a> (3 March 2001 – 15 November 2002)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Brian_Farrell_(bishop)/tTdYDhwH">Brian Farrell</a>, L.C. (19 December 2002– 23 February 2024)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></li> <li>Flavio Pace (23 February 2024 – present)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="the-bible">The Bible</h2> <p>The council is responsible for working with other churches on ecumenical translations of scripture, and promoted the establishment of the <a href="/facts/Catholic_Biblical_Federation/dU8bSzAf">Catholic Biblical Federation</a>. </p> <h2 id="relations-with-the-jews">Relations with the Jews</h2> <p>The <a href="/facts/Commission_of_the_Holy_See_for_Religious_Relations_with_the_Jews/djxnnh44">Commission of the Holy See for Religious Relations with the Jews</a> is the responsibility of the PCPCU, while the <a href="/facts/Commission_of_the_Holy_See_for_Religious_Relations_with_Muslims/tcaSKHth">Commission of the Holy See for Religious Relations with Muslims</a> comes under the direction of the <a href="/facts/Pontifical_Council_for_Interreligious_Dialogue/v8TV4oKR">Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue</a>. This is because when the council was being created the Commission of the Holy See for Religious Relations with the Jews was consulted as to whether it wished to come under the Inter-Religious Dialogue Council, it declined and thus remains part of the Promoting Christian Unity Council. </p> <h2 id="publications">Publications</h2> <ul><li>Guidelines for Interconfessional Cooperation in Translating the Bible (1987)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></li> <li>Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (25 Mar 1993)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li> <li>The Greek and Latin Traditions Regarding the Procession of the Holy Spirit (1996)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></li> <li>The Ecumenical Dimension in the Formation of those Engaged in Pastoral Work (1997)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></li> <li>The Bishop and Christian Unity: An Ecumenical Vademecum (2020)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></li> <li>Ecumenism in a Time of Pandemic: From Crisis to Opportunity (A Working Paper) (2022)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></li> <li><i>The Bishop of Rome. Primacy and synodality in ecumenical dialogues and responses to the encyclical Ut unum sint</i> (13 Jun 2024)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li>Catholicism portal</li><li>Vatican City portal</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Joint_International_Commission_for_Theological_Dialogue_Between_the_Catholic_Church_and_the_Orthodox_Church/yz39Wmcq">Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Joint_International_Commission_for_Theological_Dialogue_between_the_Catholic_Church_and_the_Oriental_Orthodox_Churches/4fHGb4y4">Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.christianunity.va/">official website</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.christianunity.va/content/dam/unitacristiani/Collezione_Ut_unum_sint/The_Bishop_of_Rome/The%20Bishop%20of%20Rome.pdf"><i>The Bishop of Rome. Primacy and synodality in ecumenical dialogues and responses to the encyclical Ut unum sint</i></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_pro_20051996_chrstuni_pro_en.html">The Holy See: The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/romancuria/d16.htm">GCatholic.org: Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity (SPCU), accessed 19 April 2023 <a href="https://iarccum.org/org/?o=444" target="_blank">https://iarccum.org/org/?o=444</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"The Holy See - The Roman Curia - Pontifical Councils - Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2017-11-25. <a href="https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/sub-index/index_east-assyrian.htm" target="_blank">https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/sub-index/index_east-assyrian.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Roman Catholic Church and International Lutheran Council to begin dialogue". Canadianlutheran.ca. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2017. <a href="http://www.canadianlutheran.ca/roman-catholic-church-and-international-lutheran-council-to-begin-dialogue/" target="_blank">http://www.canadianlutheran.ca/roman-catholic-church-and-international-lutheran-council-to-begin-dialogue/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) and the International Lutheran Council (ILC) to Hold Informal International Dialogue - International Lutheran Council". Ilc-online.org. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2017. <a href="http://www.ilc-online.org/2013/11/19/pontifical-council-for-promoting-christian-unity-pcpcu-and-the-international-lutheran-council-ilc-to-hold-informal-international-dialogue/" target="_blank">http://www.ilc-online.org/2013/11/19/pontifical-council-for-promoting-christian-unity-pcpcu-and-the-international-lutheran-council-ilc-to-hold-informal-international-dialogue/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"A New (Confessional) Direction in Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue - Mathew Block". Firstthings.com. Retrieved 25 October 2017. <a href="http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2013/11/a-new-confessional-direction-in-catholic-lutheran-dialogue" target="_blank">http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2013/11/a-new-confessional-direction-in-catholic-lutheran-dialogue</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"2024 02 27 New Secretary DPCU". www.christianunity.va. Retrieved 2024-04-09. <a href="http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/news/2024/2024-02-27-nuovo-segretario-dpuc.html" target="_blank">http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/news/2024/2024-02-27-nuovo-segretario-dpuc.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Resignations and Appointments". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2024-04-09. <a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/02/23/240223a.html" target="_blank">https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/02/23/240223a.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Guidelines for Interconfessional Cooperation in Translating the Bible". www.christianunity.va. Retrieved 2024-07-28. <a href="http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/altri-testi/en.html" target="_blank">http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/altri-testi/en.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism". www.christianunity.va. Retrieved 2024-07-28. <a href="http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/testo-in-inglese.html" target="_blank">http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/testo-in-inglese.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"The Greek and Latin Traditions Regarding the Procession of the Holy Spirit". www.christianunity.va. Retrieved 2024-07-28. <a href="http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/altri-testi/en1.html" target="_blank">http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/altri-testi/en1.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"The Ecumenical Dimension in the Formation of those Engaged in Pastoral Work". www.christianunity.va. Retrieved 2024-07-28. <a href="http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/en.html" target="_blank">http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/en.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"The Bishop and Christian Unity: An Ecumenical Vademecum". www.christianunity.va. Retrieved 2024-07-28. <a href="http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/2020-l-eveque-et-l-unite-des-chretiens---vademecum-cumenique.html" target="_blank">http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/2020-l-eveque-et-l-unite-des-chretiens---vademecum-cumenique.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Ecumenism in a Time of Pandemic: From Crisis to Opportunity | A working paper". www.christianunity.va. Retrieved 2024-07-28. <a href="http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/altri-testi/-ecumenism-in-a-time-of-pandemic--from-crisis-to-opportunity----.html" target="_blank">http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/documenti/altri-testi/-ecumenism-in-a-time-of-pandemic--from-crisis-to-opportunity----.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"Publication of the document "The Bishop of Rome"" (Press release). www.christianunity.va. 10 Jun 2024. Retrieved 15 Jun 2024. <a href="http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/news/2024/2024-06-10-publication--l-eveque-de-rome-.html" target="_blank">http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/news/2024/2024-06-10-publication--l-eveque-de-rome-.html</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>