The meeting focused on baptism and growth in communion and built on earlier ecumenical dialogues.

These concentrated on baptism, justification, Eucharist, ministry and apostolicity of the church.

In doing so, it looked at what kind of ecclesial communion arises from shared understanding of Catholics and Lutherans on baptism. Read more

Cardinal Karl Lehmann, Archbishop Emeritus of Mainz, was a world leader in building bridges of understanding, reconciliation and dialogue.

He played a leading role in advancing the Catholic Church's ecumenical dialogue, especially with Lutherans and Evangelicals.

German Bishops' Conference chair, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, said "the church of Germany is bowing humbly in front of a personality who influenced the Catholic church worldwide."

After learning of Lehmann's death, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was grateful "for our good conversations and meetings over the years."

She called Lehmann "an exceptionally gifted mediator between the German Catholics and Rome, in the spirit of the economical movement between the Christian churches, but also between Christians and believers of other religions."

His ecumenical work stretched over 50 years.

In 1969 he became a member of the Central Committee of German Catholics and of a working committee of Evangelical and Catholic Theologians.

Six years later he was named a scientific consultant for the Catholic part of the working committee, and in 1989 became its president.

In June 1983 he became a member of the circle for dialogue between representatives of the German Bishops' Conference and those from the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany.

From March 1986-1988, he also became a member and later president of the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue between the World Lutheran Federation and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.

Last year the Lutheran and Catholic Churches signed a joint statement to mark their shared commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Pope Francis traveled to Lund, Sweden for a joint-commemoration of the landmark anniversary.

In addition to his role in helping advance ecumenism, Lehmann was an academic. He held teaching posts in various German universities.

He received awards from universities and institutions all over the world, and was the author of several publications.

He was elected president of the German Bishops' Conference in 1987 - a post he held for 20 years.

In 1995 he was named Special Secretary of the First Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, and from 1988-1998 was a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• New Zealand Herald
• Vanguard
• Image: scross.co.za

Speaking at a conference in Washington, DC, Cardinal Kasper said Francis wants to retool the Catholic hierarchy.

This will result in a hierarchy that not only defines and enforces Church teachings, but also listens and responds to how laypeople understand God's will.

The concept of "sensus fidei" - the capacity of individual believers and the Church as a whole to discern the truths of faith - are important to Francis, Cardinal Kasper said.

That concept, Cardinal Kasper said, "was emphasised by the council . . . [but] Francis now wishes to give it complete meaning".

"He wants a listening magisterium - that makes its position, yes," the cardinal said, "but makes its position after it has heard what the Spirit says to its churches."

"Catholicity includes ... all," Cardinal Kasper said.

"Women and men, young and old, clergy and laity. The laity are not only recipients, but also actors. Not only objects, but much more, subjects in the Church."

Cardinal Kasper, who is a former president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, also spoke at length about ecumenical dialogue.

He called for a "down-to-earth ecumenism" that is not limited to academic theological discussions.

But even after decades of work, Cardinal Kasper said, the ecumenical dialogues are at a perilous point.

"Agreement is nowhere in sight," he said.

"This situation is extremely dangerous. If we are not in agreement of where we are and going, there is a great danger that we will disperse in different directions."

"The great expectations following the council have not been followed," he said. "We are at a standstill."

"An ecumenism of love, of encounter, of listening and friendship are what is needed."

Cardinal Kasper also touched on the so-called "hermeneutic of continuity", which stresses that Vatican II did not repeal earlier Church teachings or traditions.

"The hermeneutic of continuity must - for the sake of the future, the sustainability of Christianity - always be a hermeneutic of reform," he said.

Sources

• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Lutheran World