CWNews.com - The president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity gave an optimistic assessment of ecumenical relations with the Oriental Orthodox churches, as he spoke in Lebanon after chairing a joint meeting of Catholic and Orthodox representatives. Cardinal Walter Kasper noted that the Catholic and Oriental Orthodox churches are "rediscovering our unity" on a practical level after closing in on theological accords that would resolve the Christological disputes that led to their separation more than 15 centuries ago. Completing the work to achieve full reunion would have a dramatic impact on both the ecumenical landscape and the political world in the Middle East, the cardinal said.
The Oriental Orthodox churches-- including the Armenian, Syrian, and Coptic churches-- as distinct from the Byzantine Orthodox churches (Russian, Greek, Ukrainian, etc.) broke with Rome in the 5th century after the Council of Chalcedon.
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