Ecclesiae unitatem
Ecclesiae unitatem ( dt : The unity of the church ) is an apostolic letter from Pope Benedict XVI. The Apostolic Letter published on July 8, 2009, in the form of a motu proprio, revised the structure and tasks of the Ecclesia Dei Pontifical Commission and the dialogue with the Society of St. Pius X.
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The Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesiae unitatem begins with an affirmation of the Pope's concern for the unity of the Church (1). Pope Benedict XVI recalls that the episcopal ordinations carried out by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre on June 30, 1988 were "prohibited" (2). Furthermore, it is stated that the readmission of the liturgy of 1962 by the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum was based on the desire "to make every effort so that those who really want unity can remain in it or return to it" (3 ). In addition, Benedict XVI confirms that the withdrawal of the excommunication against the four bishops of the Society of St. Pius X on January 21, 2009 was based on the same wish (4). The Pope also specifies that "the questions about doctrine still exist and, until they are resolved, the Society of St. Pius X does not have canonical status in the Roman Catholic Church " (4).
Since "the problems that must now be dealt with with the Brotherhood are essentially doctrinal in nature", the Pontifical Ecclesia Dei Commission is to be "closely linked to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" (5). The Pontifical Ecclesia Dei Commission is subordinate to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith . About the structure of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei says Pope Benedict XVI. The following:
- The President of the Commission is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
- The commission has its own structure consisting of a secretary and officials.
- The President, assisted by the Secretary, sends the most important cases and questions of a doctrinal nature to the competent authorities of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The results of the procedures carried out according to the above scheme are to be communicated to the Pope.