Moscow archbishop: Pope Francis puts Christ at the centre of Church reform
Moscow (AsiaNews) - Not only the pope's simplicity and poverty but especially his focus on the relationship of the Church to Christ are what struck Mgr Paolo Pezzi, archbishop of the Mother of God Church in Moscow. He spoke to AsiaNews about the reaction of Russian Catholics to the election of Card Jorge Mario Bergoglio and the desire for spiritual renewal that Pope Francis has sparked among the Orthodox. After an initial surprise, due to the fact that no one knew Benedict XVI'S successor, the Moscow Patriarchate was reassured and welcomed him, hopeful for dialogue between the two sister Churches, despite lingering obstacles to a meeting between the pontiff and Russian Orthodox.
Your Excellency, have you ever met Card Bergoglio?
Yes, in 2000 and 2001, when he was not yet cardinal. I had travelled to Buenos Aires at a time when I was not yet in Russia.
What was your impression?
A simple person, deep, with a good capacity to establish a direct rapport with the person in front of him.
What do you think about the pope's first acts and words?
Whatever he says and how he says it show a deep connection to Christ. Choosing the name of Francis surely shows clear ideas, a desire for a life of poverty as radical as that of Francis of Assisi. This means being totally devoted to Christ, and have no other concerns. It seems that, deep down there is a conviction that the relationship to Christ is the foremost task and need. After that, there is certainly a need to build a relationship with people, especially the poor, and the need to renew the relationship with the reality created by God.
What was the reaction among Catholics in Russia?
Very favourable. I saw a real, simple and humble willingness to accept the pope the way he is for the clear and manifest need that we need a father. About Pope Francis, many people were positively struck by his directness.
How did Russia's Catholic community react to the resignation of Benedict XVI?
Initially, there was shock because no one expected it. People eventually realised that the pope was not giving up, that his decision was a way to make us understand that Christ rules the Church.
Some people tried to view Benedict XVI's choice against that of John Paul II's (holding out despite his grave illness). However, most saw that there was no alternative and that the pope had a responsibility towards God and the paramount interests of the Church and that Christ leads the Church. The faithful realised that the same path can lead to two choices that might seem at odds with one another.
How did officials from the Moscow Patriarchate react to Francis's election?
The first reaction was surprise because he was relatively unknown. Soon, media began reporting on the archbishop of Buenos Aires's frequent contacts with Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox. In fact, Card Bergoglio was the ordinary bishop for Eastern Catholics in Argentina and does know a great deal about the Greek Catholic Church in Argentina.
Did this somehow reassure Russian Orthodox?
I think so, because he forcefully expressed hope for the future. Card Bergoglio was in touch with the Russian Orthodox Church on several occasions. I was told that he took part in Orthodox Easter Mass almost every year in Buenos Aires.
Did he have contacts with the Russian Orthodox Church in Argentina?
Yes, with the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. In Argentina, the latter has not completely rejoined with Moscow, the same in other parts of the world. When Church assets became an issue that involved political authorities, Card Bergoglio helped out, and this was seen as something very positive.
How important is ecumenical dialogue for the Russian Orthodox Church at this point in time?
Orthodox Churches do not generally like the expression ecumenical dialogue. They speak instead of "dialogue among Churches". For them, it was never a priority. However, the Russian Orthodox Church is interested in dialogue to order to defend shared views, especially on social matters and to defend Christians around the world. The Moscow Patriarchate believes that positive developments occurred in this area and that the premises exists to continue and enhance it with Pope Francis.
Could the meeting between the pontiff and the patriarch be advanced?
I do not think there is any real change compared to the past. The position is the same. For the Russian Orthodox Church, certain impediments would turn the meeting into a simple media event, and they do not want that.
What are the real problems?
There is always something. Today, it is the Greek Catholics in Ukraine. In the past, there were others (so-called Catholic proselytising for example). In the future, there might be something else.
The main obstacle, the Patriarchate said, is the issue of the Uniate Church in the Ukraine.
It would appear so. However, it is unclear how the actual existence of the Greek Catholic Church is problem in that country. I do understand past problems. I realise that they must be addressed and that it might be hard to find the right place to do that, but I do not understand how this is an obstacle for a possible meeting. What is positive is that they view the meeting as desirable. At the same time however, some awkwardness lingers. Perhaps, sooner or later, we shall succeed in settling and overcoming it.
Metropolitan Hilarion, Department of External Church Relations, has explicitly said a condition for a meeting would the resolution of "conflicts from the 80s and 90s", i.e. the issue of Orthodox churches taken over by Greek Catholics in western Ukraine following the collapse of the Soviet regime. Is this being dealt with?
The question of how Church properties were returned or how a Church took over properties previously owned by another, a problem that applies to both Churches as far I can tell, has not been addressed in the right place.
The Moscow Patriarchate is embroiled in a number of highly publicised scandals over the clergy's alleged lavish lifestyle. Can someone like Pope Francis spark a desire among Orthodox Christians for a renewal of their Church?
Yes. Various Orthodox believers want this, although I do see that reflected in mass media. They want to go back to their origins, they want and feel a need for the purification of their witness.
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