Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

FOURTH MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE COPTIC ORTHODOX
CHURCH
March 13th – 18th 1978
From March 13 to 18 there took place in Cairo the fourth meeting of the Joint
International Commission between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox
Church. Previous meetings have been held in Cairo in 1974 and 1975 and in Vienna in
1976. The Joint Commission was established by His Holiness Pope Paul VI and His
Holiness Pope Shenouda III on the occasion of their meeting in Rome in May 1973. Its
function, as stated in the Common Declaration issued then, is “to guide common study in
the fields of Church tradition, patristics, liturgy, theology, history and practical problems
so that by cooperation in common we may seek to resolve, in a spirit of mutual respect,
the differences existing, between our Churches and be able to proclaim together the
Gospel in ways which correspond to the authentic message of the Lord and to the needs
and hopes of today’s world”.
In the course of its meeting, the commission discussed studies on the role of the councils
in the life of the Church and on the sacraments in their relation to the Church and the
economy of salvation. The studies had been recommended in earlier meetings as being
of particular importance for reaching a common understanding of our Christian faith and
life. The commission was able to clarify a number of points concerning these subjects
and indicate areas that need further reflection and clarification.
The commission considered some general principles for the relations between our
Churches and their activities. It also agreed upon some specific recommendations for the
study of the nature and forms of the full unity we are seeking. It examined the work of
the Joint Local Committee that had been set up in 1974 to promote and guide the
contacts between the Churches on the local level and aid in overcoming obstacles to
these contacts.
Recommendations were made for improving and strengthening this work.
The commission also stressed that, since its work and that of the local committee is an
effort at accomplishing God’s will for our Churches, this work should be accompanied
by prayer and fasting among its members and that others in both Churches should be
invited to participate in these same spiritual activities aimed at obtaining, God’s blessing.
The conclusions and recommendations of this meeting are now being submitted to the
authorities of both Churches.
In the course of the meeting of the Commission, the members participated in fraternal
suppers held at the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate and at the Apostolic Nunciature. They
also made a pilgrimage to the Wadi El-Natroun where they were guests of the
monasteries of Saint Macarios and of Deir es Suriani.
Participating- in the meeting were:
For the Catholic Church: Rev. Msgr. Charles Moeller, Secretary of the Vatican
Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, head of the Catholic delegation; His
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