"Common participation in the Eucharist can only be a final outcome of ecumenic dialogue, not the starting point"

This quote by Karl Lehmann suggests that typical involvement in the Eucharist must not be the beginning point of ecumenic dialogue. Rather, it must be the last outcome of such discussion. This indicates that the process of ecumenic discussion must be undertaken first, before any common participation in the Eucharist can occur. This is likely due to the fact that ecumenic discussion is a procedure of understanding and reconciliation between different Christian denominations, and it is essential that this process is finished before any typical involvement in the Eucharist can happen. This is likely due to the fact that common participation in the Eucharist is a powerful symbol of unity and understanding between various denominations, and it is necessary that this unity is achieved through dialogue and understanding first. Therefore, this quote by Karl Lehmann suggests that common involvement in the Eucharist ought to not be the starting point of ecumenic dialogue, but rather the final result of such discussion.