Syria, the Pope, China: A Conversation with Orthodox Metropolitan Hilarion – Asia News
On Ravenna:
“It ‘s still early to talk about the results of the work of the Commission , very difficult issues are being considered, such as the primacy and the role of the bishop of Rome, which is being discussed for the first time in a thousand years. During the working sessions , some very delicate issues were also raised, not only regarding relations between Catholics and Orthodox, but also among the Orthodox Churches themselves. Unfortunately , the document that the Commission is now preparing is under embargo and, therefore , it is not possible to comment or criticize , if not within the Commission itself.
“It seems to me, however, that this document does not comply with the mandate that the Commission received from the Churches and does not explain clearly what the differences and similarities between Catholics and Orthodox consist of.”
On relations with the Catholics, the sticking point is still the modern-day restitution to dispossessed Ukrainian Catholics of the properties that were confiscated by Stalin when their Church was suppressed and persecuted, and their church buildings forcibly given to the Moscow patriarchate:
“To date, the biggest problem in this regard is the situation in western Ukraine , where in the 1980s and 1990s very sad events took place, which deprived the Orthodox communities in some towns and villages of their churches . It persists still today.”