A welcoming word From His Excellency Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic,
the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine,
to the participants of the Second International Conference
"Radical Orthodoxy: a Christian Response to Postmodern Culture"
The Institute of Ecumenical Studies Of the Ukrainian Catholic University
L'viv, June 1, 2006

    Dear friends,
    
     With great joy I have accepted an invitation to participate in this international conference on the subject of "Radical Orthodoxy: a Christian response to postmodern culture," organized by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University.
    
     For all of us, who confess belief in Jesus Christ, God the man, and proclaim him to be our Redeemer, the task to work for the sake of the unity of His Mystical Body, the Church, also remains urgent. This work requires a living faith in Jesus' word, which has left us this task as a core part of his spiritual covenant, begging the Father at the Last Supper, 'that they may all be one … that the world may believe' (Jn 17, 21). This work requires the creative spirit, inspired with love for the Lord's law (see Ps 119,113). Many generous hearts were moved by faith in the Gospel and strengthened with hope that does not disappoint (Rom 5, 5), to continue seeking new ways to approach God, the source of life, in which we can find the light that will lead us to an exceedingly complete knowing God (see Ps 36,10). For this reason, I would like to express my particular gratitude to all those who have given their efforts to organizing and holding this noble ecumenical event. First of all, I want to thank Fr. Dr. Iwan Dacko, the president of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University, and to also thank Dr. Antoine Arjakovsky, its Director.
    
     The subject of this international conference is dedicated to "radical orthodoxy," that is, to a theological movement, which embraces the representatives of different Christian confessions, who yearn to disclose the whole beauty of the Gospel and the whole richness of theology in a proper light. At first glance, the definition "radical" seems unusual here. But if we take into consideration the profound meaning of "joyful news," we will be persuaded that the message of Jesus is radical by its nature, as the Love of God for mankind till the very end of human existence is radical.
    
     That is why we can say that Christian doctrine reaches the highest level of "orthodoxy" and of credence only when it becomes an expression of divine love, instilled in our heart by the Holy Spirit (see Rom 5,5). This principal Christian theme was highlighted in the book Love Alone Is Believable by Hans Urs von Balthasar (Johannes Verlag, 1963). He is convinced that only divine love can change the human heart, and the heart of the believer, and thus bring unity to the Church. The great theologian sees that the world can be changed through love. Love is the true light of the world which can enlighten people and suggest new solutions for the great problems of mankind.
    
     In the same way our conference, as well as each encounter of an ecumenical character, must be permeated with love. Certainly, it stands to reason that human love improves our earthly existence and provides worthiness to all that we do and, especially, to such an elevated affair as an ecumenical dialogue. We are also aware, that here something more is meant. The gift of God's grace is always with those who believe in the Lord. We know it from the revelation of the Holy Scripture and we know that beyond this truth human knowledge bears only a marginal, secondary character. We all know Pascal's expression, "Tout ce qui ne va point a la charite est figure. L' unique objet de l'Ecriture est la charite' (cf. Pensee, 670). By this I mean, all that does not refer to love, what is not conformable with love, is secondary, it is only a form. The only object of the Holy Scriptures is love.
    
     The Holy Father Benedictus XVI also chose this subject for his first encyclical. Many expected that the first speech of the new Pontiff would be dedicated to a more "concrete" issue. But the Pope decided to appeal to the core subject of Christianity, which henceforth will illuminate his whole pontificate. In fact, the highest message of the Church is love. The Church does not have any lessons that would not refer to it. Saint Theresa of the Infant Jesus has expressed this actuality in exceedingly beautiful words, which inspire the Church today still, "My calling is love."
    
     All this refers both to the ecumenical dialogue and to the relations between different Christian confessions. There is no doubt that each step towards rapproachement which we manage to make is in some way the result of feeling love, experienced with profound conviction, "radically," heroically.
    
     With these feelings I willingly join the work of the conference and to all present here renew the assurance of my closeness and prayer.
    
    Thank you.