The Church in the East and West

Dialogue of the Churches East and West

• During Vatican II, after 1000 years of separation, the Catholic Church of the West and the Orthodox Church of the East began to see themselves as “sister churches.” 

• There are differences between the churches:

  • different liturgies and Church orders 

  • different theological opinions on the role of the pope as being first among equals

• However, these churches have accepted each other’s Eucharist.

• Their differences are both obstacles and a source of enrichment.

• Through those differences, the Western Church has gained a new awareness that unity can exist with a lot of diversity.