Pope Francis: Building bridges between East and West through Synodality and Ecumenism

In a historic meeting at the Vatican on Monday, November 11, Pope Francis welcomed the Holy Synod of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, marking the first visit of this ancient Indian Christian tradition to Rome.

The occasion celebrated the growing ecumenical ties between the Catholic Church and the Mar Thoma Church, a community with deep roots tracing back to the Apostle St. Thomas in the first century.

Reflecting the theme of “building bridges,” Pope Francis warmly greeted Metropolitan Theodosius Mar Thoma and the Mar Thoma faithful, recognizing the Church’s unique role as a “bridge church” between East and West.

This meeting underscored the shared commitment to fostering Christian unity, with both leaders acknowledging that their mutual values of synodality and mission lay the foundation for deeper connections.

The Pope praised the Mar Thoma Church's commitment to dialogue, citing its representation at the Second Vatican Council and the start of formal dialogue with the Catholic Church in Kerala in 2022.

He expressed hope for greater unity, envisioning a future where Catholics and Mar Thoma faithful might share in the Eucharist as the ultimate symbol of communion.

Recalling Christ’s words, “They shall come from east and west and sit at the table” (Mt 8:11), Pope Francis underscored his vision of a more unified Church across cultures.

Central to this vision are the themes of synodality and mission. Pope Francis highlighted how synodality—valued deeply by the Mar Thoma Church—also aligns with the Catholic Church’s recent focus on a more inclusive, participatory approach.

For Pope Francis, synodality and ecumenism are inseparable, both grounded in the shared Christian baptism and the “sensus fidei” (sense of faith) uniting believers.

Quoting Metropolitan Ioannis Zizioulas, a noted Orthodox theologian, Pope Francis emphasized that Christians must “walk, pray, and work together” on the journey toward unity, even if full unity remains on the horizon.

He described the mission as both the means and goal of this journey, envisioning an “ecumenical Synod on Evangelism” one day as a testament to this shared purpose.

The Pope commended the Mar Thoma Church’s strong missionary spirit, seeing it as a valuable contribution to the global Christian community.

He concluded the meeting by inviting everyone to join in reciting the Lord’s Prayer, a powerful reminder of their shared faith and commitment to unity.

This historic encounter serves as a testament to the progress made in ecumenical dialogue, bringing the Catholic and Mar Thoma churches closer through shared values and a mutual dedication to witness and unity.

With inputs from Vatican News