The 40th international bishops’ gathering of the Focolare Movement in Augsburg commemorates the 25th anniversary of the ground-breaking Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, signed in 1999 at the Augsburg Annakirche, marking a significant ecumenical achievement between the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation.
During a panel discussion at the House of St. Ulrich, Bishop Bertram Meier acknowledged the remarkable strides in ecumenism but stressed the ongoing need for progress, noting that, even after 25 years, certain aspirations have yet to be realized. Bishop Bertram, who previously led the German-speaking department in the Vatican Secretariat of State, shared insights into the Vatican’s reception of the ecumenical text.
Despite theological and practical challenges, the declaration successfully re-established Jesus Christ at the core of Christian faith and action. While the aspiration for a jointly celebrated Eucharist remains unrealized, Bishop Bertram highlighted the emergence of a “living ecumenical field” in areas such as religious education and pastoral care.
The engagement with the Jubilee commenced with a joint prayer at St. Anna, the historic site of the declaration’s signing. Pastor and Protestant dean, Frank Kreiselmeier, underscored the significance of the location, intertwining historical threads, including Martin Luther’s stay in 1518 and the shared use of the Annakirche’s Catholic chapel by the Fugger Family for centuries.
Emphasizing the common history that unites Christian churches, Ernst Offenner, the former Evangelical Lutheran regional bishop of Augsburg, shared his intentional descent into the crypt of St. Ulrich and Afra before signing the declaration, connecting with the tradition of Augsburg’s diocesan saints. For him and the Focolare bishops, the importance of Christian coexistence extends beyond content to delve into the depths of history.
Background information reveals that the Joint Declaration, signed on Reformation Day in 1999, aimed to bridge doctrinal gaps between the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, retracting condemnations from the 16th century. The declaration established a “consensus of basic truths” in the doctrine of justification, a pivotal point of contention during the Reformation. Since 1999, numerous Protestant churches have joined this transformative declaration.
Source: https://bistum-augsburg.de/Nachrichten/Gemeinsames-Bankett-des-Glaubens-_id_0
Photos: Julian Schmidt / pba
