Communiqué from the Co-Chairmen of the Catholic-Orthodox Bilateral Team
The decision to suspend the participation of the Orthodox side in the work of the Catholic-Orthodox Bilateral Team is of a temporary nature and does not mean that the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church breaks off ecumenical dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, reads the Communique of the Co-Chairmen of the Catholic-Orthodox Bilateral Team, signed by Bishop Adam Bab, Auxiliary Bishop of the Lublin Archdiocese, and Most Reverend Abel, Orthodox Archbishop of Lublin and Chełm. The meeting of the Co-Chairmen took place on November 3 at the seat of the Metropolitan Curia of the Lublin Archdiocese.
The communique is a response to "the erroneous and over-reaching reception and interpretation of the announcement of the Holy Council of Bishops of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church of October 24 this year, functioning in the media space". During the meeting, the Co-Chairmen of the Catholic-Orthodox Bilateral Team discussed the intra-ecclesial issues of both Churches related to their ecclesiology and pastoral activities.
In the statement, Bishop Adam Bab, together with Archbishop Abel (Popławski), stressed the need for joint charitable and prayerful activity for peace in Ukraine.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops' Conference
We publish the full text of the communication:
Communiqué of the Co-Chairmen of the Catholic-Orthodox Bilateral Team
A meeting of the Co-Chairmen of the Catholic-Orthodox Bilateral Team, His Excellency Bishop Adam Bab, and His Excellency Most Reverend Abel, Orthodox Archbishop of Lublin and Chełm, was held on November 3, 2023, at the Metropolitan Curia of the Archdiocese of Lublin. His Excellency the Metropolitan of Lublin, Archbishop Stanisław Budzik, also joined the meeting.
Archbishop Abel, Co-Chairman on behalf of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, in connection with the erroneous and too far-reaching reception and interpretation of the communiqué of the Holy Council of Bishops of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church of October 24, functioning in the media space, presented and explained the reasons for the temporary suspension of the participation of the Orthodox side in the work of the Team mentioned above. Archbishop Abel stressed that, as stated in the communiqué of the Holy Council of Bishops, this decision is temporary and does not mean that the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church breaks off ecumenical dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church. Archbishop Abel also pointed out that the multidimensional cooperation on both the national and parish levels, which is a tangible proof of 'being one' (Jn 17:21) of the faithful of both Churches, is in no way interrupted or restricted. Bishop Adam Bab said that the Roman Catholic side welcomes these declarations and hopes for further cooperation.
Later in the meeting, in a spirit of Christian charity and mutual respect, the gathered leaders discussed the most sensitive intra-ecclesial issues of the two Churches related to their ecclesiology and pastoral activities. The Co-Chairmen once again unanimously stressed the need for joint charitable and prayerful action for peace in Ukraine. They also pledged to continue a deeper dialogue, openness to the ecclesial sensitivities of both sides, and further substantive work by the Catholic-Orthodox Bilateral Team.
Concluding the meeting, the Co-Chairmen agreed that the next meeting of the Team would take place as soon as possible.
BISHOP ADAM BAB ARCHBISHOP ABEL (POPŁAWSKI)
Translated by Sr. Ewa Dobrzelecka / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
