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

PRO ORIENTE
ORIENTAL ORTHODOX – CATHOLIC FORUM
The Archbishop of Vienna, Franciscus Cardinal König established Pro Oriente, on
November 4, 1964 as an ecclesiastical foundation of the Archiepiscopal See of
Vienna. It was established for the purpose of engendering a favourable climate which
can be used for the Ecumenical dialogue between the Oriental Orthodox churches and
the Roman Catholic churches.
STRUCTURE
It was a board of sixty members under the chairmanship of the Archbishop of Vienna
who decides on the general lines. A presidency of twelve members chaired by the
former Minister for Culture and Public Instruction of the Republic of Austria,
Heinrich Drimmel (1964-1969) and Theodore Puffl-Percevic (since 1969) and with
Alfred Stirneyman as Secretary General since 1965 as the Executive.
THE CONSULTATIONS
The five historic Vienna Consultations (1971, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1988) between
theologians of the Roman Catholics and Oriental Orthodox Churches have formed a
landmark in the inspired movement of the two Churches endeavors to seek true unity
in Christ. These highly scholarly and brotherly meetings of theologians and hierarchs
from both traditions brought the two Churches to the path of dialogue, mutual
understanding and a high degree of mutual love and trust.
The First Consultation
Following the consultations with the Patriarchates of Alexandria and Antioch and the
churches in Armenia, Ethiopia and India, the first Pro Oriente consultation took place
in Vienna in September 1971. Representing the Coptic Church were: H.G. Bishop
Shenouda, Bishop for Education and the late Reverend Father Salib Sourial (1916-
1994). Bishop Shenouda delivered a sermon at the opening worship service held at
the Catholic Cathedral of Vienna.
Communiqué of the first non-official ecumenical consultation between theologians of
the Oriental Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches organised by the Foundation
Pro Oriente, in Vienna, September 7-12, 1971.
The Roman Catholic and the Oriental Orthodox theologians gathered together in
Vienna from September 7 th to 11 th , 1971, for an “unofficial ecumenical consultation”
at the invitation of the Foundation Pro Oriente have agreed on the following
statement:
“We, as Christians, feel united in a spirit of brotherhood in our faith in the One Lord
Jesus Christ, God and Saviour, and recognised equally the commission and prayer of
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