Daily Inspiration Quote by Karl Lehmann

Lehmann’s line is ecclesial diplomacy with the velvet glove pulled just far enough back to show the knuckles. As a Catholic cardinal speaking into the long, careful courtship between Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy, he’s not lamenting theological “misunderstanding.” He’s naming the one issue everyone in the room knows will decide whether unity is real or merely photogenic: primacy, shorthand for the Pope’s role, authority, and limits.

The intent is to reset expectations. “Orthodoxy has been thinking lately” sounds generous, even flattering, but it also implies a subtle asymmetry: the Catholic side has a settled position; the Orthodox side is still “thinking,” still moving. Then comes the institutional reality-check: sacramental communion isn’t an ecumenical prize you award for good vibes or shared statements. For Catholics, sharing the Eucharist is an act that presupposes a single Church, not a tool to manufacture one. Lehmann is warding off a modern temptation to treat communion as a confidence-building measure, the way politicians stage summits to prove momentum.

The subtext is harder: every other agreement (on sacraments, apostolic succession, liturgy) can look tantalizingly close, yet remain blocked by the question of who gets to speak for the whole. “Fundamental agreement” signals that a vague, face-saving formula won’t do; “still isn’t there” punctures the narrative of inevitable convergence.

Context matters: post-Vatican II ecumenism opened doors, but it also raised fears of a unity achieved by softening claims. Lehmann is insisting that real reconciliation requires a decision about power, not just theology - the kind of decision churches, like nations, postpone until they can’t.