Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church – COMMUNIQUÉ

 

JOINT INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING

Pannonhalma, 15–19 June 2026

COMMUNIQUÉ

The Coordinating Committee of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, under the co-presidency of Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, met from 15–19 June 2026 at the historic Pannonhalma Archabbey in Hungary. The Committee was hosted with fraternal love and Benedictine hospitality by the Archabbot, the Most Reverend Cirill Tamás Hortobágyi, O.S.B. and the brethren of the monastery. The members of the Coordinating Committee felt it a special privilege to be able to conduct their work in the inspiring setting of the Archabbey, founded in 996, in an atmosphere of prayer.

In the context of this meeting, and in the presence of civil authorities and local representatives of the Churches and Christian communions, the Archabbot announced the publication of documents and texts of the Catholic-Orthodox dialogue for the first time in Hungarian translation, under the title Az Igazság Párbeszéde [‘Dialogue of Truth’]. This news was met with joy by the Members of the Committee and all the attendees. Warm words of gratitude and congratulations were offered by the Co-Presidents, who noted the importance of this publication for the wider reception of the work of the Commission.

The work of the Coordinating Committee was focused on a revised draft text dealing with the topic of infallibility, considered from both theological and historical perspectives. The members of the Committee engaged in deep and fruitful discussion of the text. It was decided that several elements of the text require further revision and clarification before it can be considered at a Plenary Meeting of the Commission. Thus, another meeting of the Coordinating Committee is envisaged, to be held in June 2027.