Although I do not have any news as such as to the state of the Catholic-Orthodox dialogue (other than it has been of great mutual interest), I would like to comment regarding that seeming great challenge to Catholic-Orthodox Christian Unity, the papacy, as, before converting to Roman Catholicism, I spent 22 blessed years in Holy Orthodoxy.
In doing so, I would like to comment on the various papal titles.
First of all, I would note that, papal titles notwithstanding, for practical purposes, modern popes tend not to preside by enforcing their raw canonical power (of which they have considerable) but by the grace of the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit, i.e., charismatically as spiritual leaders rather than juridical leaders. The influence of these modern popes is primarily in the Holy Spirit - and consequently their influence has been enormous, because they have chosen to imitate the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18). In this manner modern popes have shown themselves as winsome, Christ-manifesting Spirit-filled leaders of what the Orthodox call “The Church Which Presides in Love” (essay of the same name by Nicholas Afanasieff in the Orthodx book “The Primacy of Peter,” John Meyendorff, Editor).
For that reason and for many others I am deeply and prayerfully hopeful that the Church of the West and the Churches of the East, which for over 1,000 years (Pentecost until 1054 AD) were the One Holy Undivided Catholic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ will find their way back into being by the grace of God the One Holy Undivided Church of Christ again.
SUPREME PONTIFF: Meaning “Supreme Bridge-Builder,” it could tempt a Pope to focus on canonical power. But if the Pope focuses on building bridges (“Pontiff”) to the Orthodox, there are all kinds of wonderful Christianity Unity-building possibilities.
POPE: A word meaning, “Papa,” it has all kinds of possibilities. After all, who would not like to be part of a loving family?
PATRIARCH OF THE WEST: Although this title has received less emphasis in recent years, from an Orthodox standpoint it acknowledges the Church of Rome as one of the ancient five patriarchates.
SUPREME PASTOR (an official title - Canon 333): This papal title (It was used by John Paul II), it has the appeal of being Biblical, alluding to the ministry of Jesus Christ as Good Shepherd (John 10) - highlighting the Savior’s Love - and would therefore have wide appeal to the Orthodox.
VICAR OF CHRIST: Although all Christians - and especially the Bishops - are in a sense Vicars of Christ, the Pope is Representative or Deputy of Christ in a very special way, charged by Him to “Feed My sheep” (see John 21:15-19; see also Matthew 16:17-19), that is, the whole Holy Church of God. If the Pope can exercise this ministry in a primarily spiritual, charismatic way, rather than a primarily canonical way, this formula could be acceptable to the Orthodox, who see their Bishops as “vicars of Christ.”
SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD: This title, which the Popes use when signing official documents of the Holy See, alludes to the verse of the Gospel, “… the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). This evangelical saying has enormous ecumenical Christian Unity possibilities and great Christian appeal across the board. Over the last few years there have been a spate of books on servant leadership - by not only Catholics but also by Protestants, Anglicans and Orthodox. The repentant, loving spiritual humility which this verse implies implies the Holy Spirit of Christ in Whom to approach not only our brother and sister Orthodox but also our separated brother and sister Christians in the Christian communities of the Reformation.
In short, I believe that by the Grace of God the Papacy can be not just a blessing but an actual vehicle of Unity and full communion with the Holy Orthodox Church.
