The Eastern Catholic Churches, renowned for their rich traditions and unique liturgical practices, are integral to the global Catholic communion. In a recent exclusive interview, Andreas Thonhauser, EWTN’s Vatican Bureau Chief, engaged with Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, who provided an overview of the challenges and values of Christians in the Middle East.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief:
There’s a lot of change happening and has happened over the last years in the Middle East, especially also in the Holy Land, as we sadly know, even the latest developments in countries like Syria. What do Christians need there?
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti — Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches:
They need everything and we cannot give anything. Because as long as this war goes on, also volunteers, they cannot go there. Who is entering? When the bombs are falling during the whole day? And you don’t know where. You see all these foreign powers are so strictly mingled with the internal life that it is extremely difficult to have the perception of a possible common behavior.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief:
It seems very clear that Pope Francis is also very interested in the situation there in his constant calls for peace.
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti — Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches:
Yes, my friend, because there is no alternative. What is very clear is that the alternative is between a peace, maybe not a perfect peace, maybe not a just peace, 100%, or having our boys in the army in one year or even less.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief:
You mean also for Europe? This is not something to just look away from…
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti — Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches:
Absolutely. Look what is happening in Eastern Europe, being within the Union. You know what, we consider a union to be taken for granted because we had money in common, it’s not to be taken for granted, because money is not the only problem.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief:
What is the lesson here also for Europe, for the United States, for the world outside the Eastern Churches?
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti — Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches:
My impression is that we are too superficial because we have had good years of prosperity, of [a] financial, more or less, good situation. But this is all. The rest of the world is not… who said that we live on an island preserved and we can drink scotch while there are crocodiles around?
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief:
What other things can we learn from the Eastern Churches on a global level?
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti — Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches:
Great fidelity to prayer and to a good Christian life. The people of God are wonderful. Wherever they go, they are a model, an example for everybody. Christianity is something that was not obnoxious to society, to create more violence. Of course, we had our internal violence with the Inquisition and other things, but generally, it’s not bad for a society because we take care, as Christians. But we take care also of those who are not Christians, which is very specific, very peculiar.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief:
The Jubilee.
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti — Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches:
Yes.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief:
What does it mean and how will it influence and impact the Eastern Churches?
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti — Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches:
For the Orientals it will be a very good occasion to perceive that somewhere else they have a different system, they have different traditions, and see if these things are so alien to their own tradition, or if they cannot be incorporated into their own tradition.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief:
So there’s a lot the West can learn from the East, but also vice versa…
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti — Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches:
As long as the West does not want to impose something on the East, because that is destroying the whole atmosphere of communion.
Andreas Thonhauser — EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief:
Thank you very much.
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti — Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches:
Great pleasure.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
