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| Francis worshipping with the Anglicans. (See video of his recent visit to "All-Saints" Anglican "Church" in Rome HERE) |
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| Pope Leo XIII |
Pope Leo XIII: “Wherefore,
strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our
predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by
our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and
declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been,
and are, absolutely null and utterly void.” (See: Does the Catholic Church recognise Anglican Ordinations as Valid?)
Francis: “...I was very friendly with the
Anglicans at Buenos Aires, because the back of the parish of Merced was
connected with the Anglican Cathedral. I was very friendly with Bishop Gregory
Venables, very friendly. But there’s another experience: In the north of
Argentina there are the Anglican missions with the aborigines, and the Anglican
Bishop and the Catholic Bishop there work together and teach. And when people can’t go on Sunday to the
Catholic celebration they go to the Anglican, and the Anglicans go to the
Catholic, because they don’t want to spend Sunday without a celebration; and
they work together. And here [at the Vatican], the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith knows this. And they engage in charity together.
And the two Bishops are friends and the two communities are friends. I think
this is a richness [treasure] that our young Churches can bring to
Europe and to the Churches that have a great tradition. And they give to us the
solidity of a very, very well cared for and very thought out tradition. It’s
true, — ecumenism in young Churches is easier. It’s true. But I believe that –
and I return to the second question – ecumenism is perhaps more solid in
theological research in a more mature Church, older in research, in the study
of history, of Theology, of the Liturgy, as the Church in Europe is. And I
think it would do us good, to both Churches: from here, from Europe to send
some seminarians to have pastoral experience in the young Churches, so much is
learned. We know [that] they come, from the young Churches, to study at Rome,
at least the Catholics [do]. But to send them to see, to learn from the young
Churches would be a great richness in the sense you said. Ecumenism is easier
there, it’s easier, something that does not mean [it’s] more superficial, no,
no, it’s not superficial. They don’t negotiate the faith and [their] identity. In the north of Argentina, an aborigine says
to you: “I’m Anglican.” But the bishop is not here, the Pastor is not here, the
Reverend is not here . . . “I want to praise God on Sunday and so I go to the
Catholic Cathedral,” and vice versa. They are riches of the young
Churches. I don’t know, this is what comes to me to say to you. (See: Pope’s Q & A at Anglican All Saints Church ).
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