Editing Pope Paul VI (section)

===Ecumenism and ecumenical relations===
{{Tone|section|date=November 2024}}
After the council, Paul VI contributed in two ways to the continued growth of ecumenical dialogue: The [[Separated brethren|separated brothers and sisters]], as he called them, could not contribute to the council as invited observers. After the council, many took the initiative to seek out their Catholic counterparts and the Pope in Rome, who welcomed such visits. However, the Catholic Church recognized from the many previous ecumenical encounters that much needed to be done within to be an open partner for [[ecumenism]].{{Sfn|Schmidt|pp=811–12}} To those entrusted with the highest and deepest truth, therefore, Paul VI believed that he had the most challenging part to communicate. Ecumenical dialogue, in the view of Paul VI, requires from a Catholic the whole person: one's entire reason, will, and heart.{{Sfn|Guitton|1967|p=177}} Paul VI, like Pius XII before him, was reluctant to give in on a lowest possible point. And yet, Paul felt compelled to admit his ardent Gospel-based desire to be everything to everybody and to help all people{{Sfn|Guitton|1967|p=181}} Being the successor of Peter, he felt the words of Christ, "Do you love me more" like a sharp knife penetrating to the marrow of his soul. These words meant to Paul VI love without limits,{{Sfn|Guitton|1967|p=185}} and they underscore the church's fundamental approach to ecumenism.

====Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Apostolic====

Paul VI visited the Eastern Orthodox Apostolic Patriarchs of [[Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] and [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|Constantinople]] in 1964 and 1967. He was the first pope since the ninth century to visit the East, labelling the Eastern Churches as sister churches.<ref name="Franzen 429">{{Harvnb|Franzen|1988|p= 429}}</ref> He was also the first pope in centuries to meet the heads of various [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] communities. Notably, his meeting with [[Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I]] in 1964 in [[Jerusalem]] led to rescinding the [[excommunication]]s of the [[East-West Schism|Great Schism]], which took place in 1054.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Collins|first1=Michael|title=The Vatican|date=2014|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=London|isbn=9780756689001|page=75}}</ref>

This was a significant step towards restoring communion between Rome and Constantinople. It produced the [[Catholic-Eastern Orthodox Apostolic Joint Declaration of 1965]], read on 7 December 1965, simultaneously at a public meeting of the Second Vatican Council in Rome and at a special ceremony in Istanbul. The declaration did not end the schism but showed a desire for greater reconciliation between the two churches.<ref name="Franzen 429" /> In May 1973, the [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic Patriarch]] [[Shenouda III]] of Alexandria from the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] visited the Vatican, where he met three times with Pope Paul VI. A common declaration and a joint [[creed]] issued after the visit proclaimed unity in a number of theological issues,<ref name="Franzen 430" /> but also that other theological differences "[[Council of Chalcedon|since the year 451]]" "cannot be ignored" while both traditions work to a greater unity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/anc-orient-ch-docs/rc_pc_christuni_doc_19730510_copti_en.html |title=Common Declaration of Pope Paul VI and of the Pope of Alexandria Shenouda III leader of the Oriental Orthodox Church |last1=Paul VI |last2=Shenouda III |date=10 May 1973 |website=Vatican.va |access-date=19 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418033834/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/anc-orient-ch-docs/rc_pc_christuni_doc_19730510_copti_en.html |archive-date=18 April 2005 }}</ref>

====Anglicans====
Paul VI was the first pope to receive an [[Anglican]] [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], [[Michael Ramsey]], in official audience as Head of Church, after the private audience visit of Archbishop [[Geoffrey Fisher]] to [[Pope John XXIII]] on 2 December 1960.{{Sfn | Guitton | 1967 | p = 198}} Ramsey met Paul three times during his visit and opened the [[Anglican Centre in Rome]] to increase their mutual knowledge.<ref name="Schmidt 813">Schmidt 813</ref> He praised Paul VI{{Efn | And John XXIII.}} and his contributions in the service of unity.<ref name="Schmidt 813" /> Paul replied, "By entering into our house, you are entering your own house; we are happy to open our door and heart to you."<ref name="Schmidt 813" /> The two church leaders signed a joint declaration, ending past disputes and outlining a common future agenda.

Cardinal [[Augustin Bea]], the head of the [[Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity|Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity]], added at the end of the visit, "Let us move forward in Christ. God wants it. Humanity is waiting for it."<ref>Schmidt 814</ref> Unmoved by a harsh condemnation by the Congregation of Faith on mixed marriages precisely at this time of the visit, Paul VI and Ramsey appointed a preparatory commission which was to put the common agenda into practice on such issues as mixed marriages. This resulted in a joint Malta declaration, the first joint agreement on the [[Creed]] since the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]].<ref>Schmidt 815</ref> Paul VI was a good friend of the Anglican Church, which he described as "our beloved sister Church." This description was unique to Paul and not used by later popes.<!--- [[John Paul II]]. In [[Dominus Jesus]] and [[Benedict XVI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html|title=Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church|website=www.vatican.va}}</ref> denied Church character to Anglican and Protestant churches because Catholics do not recognise their [[apostolic succession]].-->

====Protestants====
In 1965, Paul VI decided to create a joint working group with the [[World Council of Churches]] to map all possible avenues of dialogue and cooperation. Eight sessions were held in the following three years, resulting in many joint proposals.<ref>Schmidt 822–824</ref> It was proposed to work closely together in social justice and development and "Third World" issues such as hunger and poverty. On the religious side, it was agreed to be shared in the [[Week of Prayer for Christian Unity]], which would be held annually. The joint working group was to prepare texts which were to be used by all Christians.<ref>Schmidt 826</ref> On 19 July 1968, the meeting of the World Council of Churches took place in [[Uppsala]], Sweden, which Pope Paul called a sign of the times. He sent his blessing ecumenically: "May the Lord bless everything you do for the case of Christian Unity."<ref>Schmidt 827.</ref> The World Council of Churches decided on including Catholic theologians in its committees, provided they have the backing of the Vatican.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

The [[Lutheran]]s were the first Protestant church offering a dialogue to the Catholic Church in September 1964 in [[Reykjavík]], Iceland.<ref>Schmidt 830,</ref> It resulted in joint study groups of several issues. The dialogue with the [[Methodist Church]] began in October 1965, after its representatives officially applauded the past five years' remarkable changes, friendship, and cooperation. The [[Reformed Church]]es entered four years later into a dialogue with the Catholic Church.<ref>Schmidt 831</ref> The President of the [[Lutheran World Federation]] and member of the central committee of the World Council of Churches [[Fredrik A. Schiotz]] stated during the 450th anniversary of the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], that earlier commemorations were viewed almost as a triumph. He welcomed the announcement of Pope Paul VI to celebrate the 1900th anniversary of the death of the [[Apostle Peter]] and [[Apostle Paul]], and promised participation and co-operation in the festivities.<ref>Schmidt 833</ref>

Paul VI supported the new-found harmony and cooperation with Protestants on many levels. When Cardinal [[Augustin Bea]] went to see him for permission for a joint Catholic-Protestant translation of the Bible with Protestant Bible societies, the Pope walked towards him and exclaimed, "As far as the cooperation with [[Bible society|Bible societies]] is concerned, I am totally in favour."<ref>Schmidt 835</ref> He issued a formal approval on [[Pentecost]] 1967, the feast on which the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] descended on the Christians, overcoming all linguistic difficulties, according to Christian tradition.<ref>Schmidt 837</ref>