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

SECOND MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE COPTIC ORTHODOX
CHURCH
October 27th-31st, 1975
From October 27th to 31st, 1975, the Joint Commission between the Catholic Church and
the Coptic Orthodox Church met in Cairo. This was the second session of the
Commission since it was established by His Holiness Pope Paul VI and His Holiness
Pope Shenouda III after their historic meeting in Rome in 1973.
Following upon the common declaration of Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III, the
commission, in its first meeting in March 1974, made a significant step in expressing one
fundamental understanding of Christ as God Incarnate, so that we can consider the
Christological problem nearly solved from a theological point of view.
The main theme of this meeting was a vision and understanding of the unity we seek. It
was agreed that the union we are looking forward to achieving in the future in which our
two Apostolic Churches, equally and with mutual respect, would come into full
communion again on the basis of the faith, the traditions and the ecclesiastical life of the
undivided Church of the first four and a half centuries, would be a real unity.
It was recognised that there remain serious divergences among us on a number of
questions and particularly in regard to our understanding of the ecclesiology on which
unity is based. For this reason, the Commission has decided that theological studies be
undertaken on the understanding of unity which existed in the undivided Church in order
to see what this has to tell us for the life of our Churches today. Not merely were these
studies decided upon, but a clear plan for carrying them out was developed.
In addition, the Commission considered concrete ways by which mutual understanding
could develop among our clergy and people.
In 1974, the Commission had recommended the establishment of a local Joint Committee
whose objective was to implement the use of resources for the service of Christ and His
Church in Egypt, and to take effective measures to eliminate activities, which obstruct
this service. This Committee, which is in existence for almost a year now, reported to the
Commission that it has made progress in carrying out its mandate. Plans for continuing
and developing its work were discussed and approved by the Commission.
The Commission feels that God has accompanied its work with blessings. If unity must
still be achieved and the many common studies and activities the Commission envisages
should not be interpreted as if it were already an accomplished fact, nevertheless,
Catholics and Orthodox see in these studies and activities positive steps towards
achieving the Unity desired and prayed for.
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