Cardinal Koch: Ecumenism is like a Viennese waltz

Curia Cardinal Kurt Koch, who is responsible for ecumenism, continues to see Christian unity as a central goal, even if talks are often slow to progress. "It is part of dialogue that things move forward and then sometimes backwards again - like a Viennese waltz, as it were," said Koch on Deutschlandfunk radio on Wednesday. Ecumenical dialogue is not a straightforward process, but requires two virtues: "A passion for unity and patience."

Koch emphasised baptism as the basis for the coexistence of different Christian denominations: it is the foundation of ecumenism and unites all Christians. It is not about undoing the divisions of past centuries.

The challenge of the papacy

The role of the papacy also remains a challenge. Koch emphasised that Rome understands the primacy of the Pope as a "universal ministry of unity". However, an ecumenically understood papacy does not automatically mean that the Pope must have the same competences in other denominations as within the Catholic Church.

Koch (75) from Switzerland is the longest-serving Cardinal of the Curia. He has been responsible for ecumenism in the Vatican for 15 years. (KNA)