Metz Accord
Encyclopedia
The Metz Accord was an agreement of principle made between the Holy See
and the Russian Orthodox Church
at Metz
, France
, on 13 August 1962, in which the Russian Orthodox Church agreed to send observers to Second Vatican Council
and in return, the Vatican would specifically refrain from denouncing Communism
. Traditionalist Catholic
writer Malachi Martin
called it a renewal of the previous pacts of 1942 and 1944 concerning the Vatican's Ostpolitik, although the term "Ostpolitik" is usually associated with initiatives not of Pope Pius XII
(1939–58), but only of his successors, Pope John XXIII
and Pope Paul VI
.Ostpolitik: Vatican diplomacy
wanted non-Catholic Christian denominations to attend the council through observers. Cardinal Augustin Bea
S.J., President of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity
, issued a general invitation to all branches of the Eastern Orthodox Church
through Athenagoras I
, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. There were no acceptances. In November 1961, Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Minsk
, head of the foreign relations department of the Russian Orthodox Church, who represented his church at a meeting of the World Council of Churches
in New Delhi
. was asked if his church would send a delegate to the Council. He replied that it was an embarrassing question, since his church had not been invited. The Russian Orthodox Church, in fact, does not see itself as in any way subject to the Patriarch of Constantinople, and required that any invitation should be sent to it directly.
The controversial writer Malachi Martin
says that on the advice of Monsignor Agostino Casaroli, the later Cardinal Secretary of State
, and Archbishop Giovanni Battista Montini
, the later Pope Paul VI
, Pope John decided to engage in private negotiations with the Russian Orthodox Church
in order to ensure their participation.
in France, was held between Cardinals Eugène Tisserant, Prefect of the Congregation of Ceremonies
and Dean of the College of Cardinals
and Johannes Willebrands, Secretary of the newly established Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity
on the one hand, and Metropolitan Nikodim on the other, at the house of Father Lagarde, chaplain of the Little Sisters of the Poor
in Borny, on the outskirts of Metz. Malachy Martin says that Nikodim set as conditions for formal participation of Russian Church observers at the council, firstly, a non-condemnation of atheistic communism
during the conciliar assemblies, and, secondly, any such condemnations being made only after the council had finished.
, Russia
from 27 September until 2 October 1962, and officially invited the head of the Russian Orthodox church, Alexy I, Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus, to send observers to the Council. Two Russian Orthodox observers, Metropolitan Vladimir Kotlyarov of St. Petersburg and Ladoga
and Archpriest Vitali Borovoy of Leningrad
, participated at the first session in 1962.
.
At the fourth session in 1965, Geraldo de Proença Sigaud
S.V.D., Archbishop of Diamantina
, formally requested, in the name of the Coetus Internationalis Patrum
group of council fathers, that Communism be condemned. The petition, signed by 450 council fathers, was ignored by Pope Paul VI.
Metropolitan Nikodim collapsed and died in 1978 during a private audience with Pope John Paul I
in Rome. The new pope, who would himself die a few weeks later, prayed over him in his final moments and give him absolution.
had gradually begun the de-Stalinization
of the country, and had introduced several relatively liberal reforms in areas of domestic policy. A formal condemnation by the Vatican might have seriously damaged the Soviet government.
For the next twenty years or so, the Vatican remained mostly silent on Communism and the Soviet Union. It was not until the election of Pope John Paul II
that the Roman Catholic Church began forcefully denouncing Communism again.
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
and the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
at Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, on 13 August 1962, in which the Russian Orthodox Church agreed to send observers to Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
and in return, the Vatican would specifically refrain from denouncing Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. Traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical forms, public and private devotions and presentations of Catholic teachings which prevailed in the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council...
writer Malachi Martin
Malachi Martin
Malachi Brendan Martin Ph.D. was a Catholic priest, theologian, writer on the Catholic Church, and professor at the Vatican's Pontifical Biblical Institute. He held three doctorates and was the sole author of sixteen books covering religious and geopolitical topics, which were published in eight...
called it a renewal of the previous pacts of 1942 and 1944 concerning the Vatican's Ostpolitik, although the term "Ostpolitik" is usually associated with initiatives not of Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
(1939–58), but only of his successors, Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
and Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
.Ostpolitik: Vatican diplomacy
Invitation through Constantinople
In the build-up to the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIIIPope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
wanted non-Catholic Christian denominations to attend the council through observers. Cardinal Augustin Bea
Augustin Bea
Augustin Bea, SJ was a German scholar at the Gregorian University specializing in biblical studies and biblical archeology. He was confessor of Pope Pius XII. In 1959, Pope John XXIII made him cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first President of the Secretariat for Promoting...
S.J., President of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity origins are associated with the Second Vatican Council which met intermittently from 1962–1965.Pope John XXIII wanted the Catholic Church to engage in the contemporary ecumenical movement...
, issued a general invitation to all branches of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
through Athenagoras I
Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I , born Aristocles Spyrou was the 268th Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1948 to 1972.-Life:...
, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. There were no acceptances. In November 1961, Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Minsk
Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad
Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad , was metropolitan of Leningrad and Minsk from 1963 until his death.He was born in Frolovo in southwest Russia....
, head of the foreign relations department of the Russian Orthodox Church, who represented his church at a meeting of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. was asked if his church would send a delegate to the Council. He replied that it was an embarrassing question, since his church had not been invited. The Russian Orthodox Church, in fact, does not see itself as in any way subject to the Patriarch of Constantinople, and required that any invitation should be sent to it directly.
The controversial writer Malachi Martin
Malachi Martin
Malachi Brendan Martin Ph.D. was a Catholic priest, theologian, writer on the Catholic Church, and professor at the Vatican's Pontifical Biblical Institute. He held three doctorates and was the sole author of sixteen books covering religious and geopolitical topics, which were published in eight...
says that on the advice of Monsignor Agostino Casaroli, the later Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
, and Archbishop Giovanni Battista Montini
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
, the later Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
, Pope John decided to engage in private negotiations with the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
in order to ensure their participation.
Metz
A meeting hosted by Paul-Joseph Schmitt, Bishop of MetzBishopric of Metz
The Bishopric of Metz was a prince-bishopric of the Holy Roman Empire. It was one of the Three Bishoprics that were annexed by France in 1552....
in France, was held between Cardinals Eugène Tisserant, Prefect of the Congregation of Ceremonies
Congregation of Ceremonies
The Sacred Congregation of Ceremonies was a branch of the Roman Curia that is charged with the direction of all the papal ceremonies, as well as of the ceremonial of cardinals, whether in the pontifical court-History and Functions:...
and Dean of the College of Cardinals
Dean of the College of Cardinals
The Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals is the president of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church, and as such always holds the rank of Cardinal Bishop. The Dean is not necessarily the longest-serving member of the whole College...
and Johannes Willebrands, Secretary of the newly established Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity origins are associated with the Second Vatican Council which met intermittently from 1962–1965.Pope John XXIII wanted the Catholic Church to engage in the contemporary ecumenical movement...
on the one hand, and Metropolitan Nikodim on the other, at the house of Father Lagarde, chaplain of the Little Sisters of the Poor
Little Sisters of the Poor
The Little Sisters of the Poor is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. It was founded in the 19th century by Saint Jeanne Jugan near Rennes, France. Jugan felt the need to care for the many impoverished elderly who lined the streets of French towns and cities.This led her to welcome an...
in Borny, on the outskirts of Metz. Malachy Martin says that Nikodim set as conditions for formal participation of Russian Church observers at the council, firstly, a non-condemnation of atheistic communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
during the conciliar assemblies, and, secondly, any such condemnations being made only after the council had finished.
Direct invitation
Cardinal Willebrands visited MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
from 27 September until 2 October 1962, and officially invited the head of the Russian Orthodox church, Alexy I, Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus, to send observers to the Council. Two Russian Orthodox observers, Metropolitan Vladimir Kotlyarov of St. Petersburg and Ladoga
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Archpriest Vitali Borovoy of Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
, participated at the first session in 1962.
Later
On 15 September 1963, Pope Paul VI received Metropolitan Nikodim in private audience together with Cardinal Willebrands and Bishop François Charrière of Lausanne, Geneva and FribourgBishop of Lausanne
The Bishop of Lausanne was a Prince-Bishop of the Holy Roman Empire and the Ordinary of the diocese of Lausanne, Switzerland .Bern secularized the bishopric in 1536....
.
At the fourth session in 1965, Geraldo de Proença Sigaud
Geraldo de Proença Sigaud
Geraldo de Proença Sigaud, S.V.D. was a Brazilian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Jacarezinho from 1947 to 1960, and as Archbishop of Diamantina from 1960 to 1980....
S.V.D., Archbishop of Diamantina
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Diamantina
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Diamantina is an archdiocese located in the city of in Brazil.-History:* June 6, 1854: Established as Diocese of Diamantina from the Diocese of Mariana* June 28, 1917: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Diamantina...
, formally requested, in the name of the Coetus Internationalis Patrum
Coetus Internationalis Patrum
The Coetus Internationalis Patrum was a study group of the conservative-minded bishops at the Second Vatican Council...
group of council fathers, that Communism be condemned. The petition, signed by 450 council fathers, was ignored by Pope Paul VI.
Metropolitan Nikodim collapsed and died in 1978 during a private audience with Pope John Paul I
Pope John Paul I
John Paul I , born Albino Luciani, , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and as Sovereign of Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent Year of Three Popes...
in Rome. The new pope, who would himself die a few weeks later, prayed over him in his final moments and give him absolution.
Impact
Communism had been losing credibility around the world and even within the Soviet Union. Because of this, Soviet leader Nikita KhrushchevNikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
had gradually begun the de-Stalinization
De-Stalinization
De-Stalinization refers to the process of eliminating the cult of personality, Stalinist political system and the Gulag labour-camp system created by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Stalin was succeeded by a collective leadership after his death in March 1953...
of the country, and had introduced several relatively liberal reforms in areas of domestic policy. A formal condemnation by the Vatican might have seriously damaged the Soviet government.
For the next twenty years or so, the Vatican remained mostly silent on Communism and the Soviet Union. It was not until the election of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
that the Roman Catholic Church began forcefully denouncing Communism again.