Vatican City, Jan 19, 2021 / 13:00 pm
Strengthening synodality is "the most important contribution" that the Catholic Church can make to ecumenical dialogue, especially dialogue with the Orthodox, a Vatican cardinal has said.
Writing in the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano on Jan. 18, Cardinal Kurt Koch said: "Theological and pastoral efforts to build a synodal Church have a profound effect on ecumenism, as Pope Francis emphasizes with the basic principle of ecumenical dialogue, which consists in the exchange of gifts, thanks to which we can learn from each other."
Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said that "the synodal tradition of Christianity includes a rich heritage that should be revitalized." The cardinal's essay was published at the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which takes place on Jan. 18-25.
He welcomed Pope Francis' decision to hold a Synod of Bishops in 2022 on the theme of synodality.