VATICAN CITY, OCT. 3, 2007 (Zenit.org).- It is important to combine clarity in defending doctrine with an intense search for ecclesial unity, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope said that today during the general audience in St. Peter's Square, referring to St. Cyril of Alexandria's zeal for both solid doctrine and unity in the Church.
The Holy Father continued his series of catecheses on the Fathers of the Church, reflecting on Cyril, a fifth-century bishop of Egypt, who the Pontiff called "the last noteworthy representative of the Alexandrian tradition."
"Cyril took care to ensure that his theology was firmly situated within the tradition of the Church, by which he sees the guarantee of continuity with the Apostles and with Christ himself," Benedict XVI said. "Cyril’s writings -- numerous and widespread in various Latin and Eastern traditions even during his life, which is a testament to their immediate success -- are of the utmost importance for the history of Christianity."
Heresy
The Pope explained the controversy for which Cyril is most known: the battle against the Nestorian heresy, "which, to safeguard the importance of Christ’s humanity, ended up affirming its separation from his divinity."
St. Cyril was a key defender of the unity of Christ's person and defended it by reacting "almost immediately, using every means possible beginning in 429, even writing letters to Nestorius himself," the Holy Father said.
The Pontiff continued: "The true humanity and the true divinity are really united in one person, our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, continues the bishop of Alexandria, 'we profess only one Christ and Lord, not in the sense that we adore the man together with the Logos, so as not to insinuate the idea of separation by saying "together," but rather in the sense that we adore only one; his body is not something detached from the Logos, who sits at the Father’s side. There are not two sons sitting at his side, but one alone united with his own flesh.'"
Cyril eventually saw to it that Nestorianism was condemned and Nestorius exiled, a decision definitively made by the Council of Ephesus in 431.
The Pope explained: "The assembly, which took place amid tumultuous and alternating incidents, concluded with the great triumph of devotion to Mary and with the exile of the bishop of Constantinople, who refused to recognize Mary under the title of 'Mother of God,' because of a mistaken Christology, which claimed that Christ was divided in himself."
Reconciliation
However, Benedict XVI pointed out that after Cyril's triumph over heresy, he was quick to seek reconciliation in the Church.
"After prevailing in such a definitive way over his rival and his doctrine, Cyril was able to reach, as soon as 433, a theological formula of compromise and reconciliation with the people of Antioch," he said. "And this is also significant: On one hand there is clarity about the doctrine of faith, but on the other, there is the intense search for unity and reconciliation. In the years that followed, he dedicated himself in every way to defend and clarify his theological position until his death on June 27, 444."
Finally, the Bishop of Rome affirmed that Cyril's contribution to theology is not only doctrinal.
"The Christian faith is above all a meeting with Jesus, 'a person who gives life a new horizon,'" the Pope said. "St. Cyril of Alexandria was an untiring and firm witness of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, emphasizing his unity above all […] 'One alone is the Son, one alone is the Lord Jesus Christ, before the incarnation and after the incarnation. In fact, it is not a question of a Son, the Logos, born of God the Father, and another, born of the holy Virgin; but we believe that he who is before all time was born according to the flesh of a woman.'
"This affirmation, beyond its doctrinal significance, shows that faith in Jesus, the 'Logos,' born of the Father, is also deeply rooted in history because, as St. Cyril says, this same Jesus came in time by being born of Mary, the 'Theotòkos,' and will be, according to his promise, with us always.
"And this is important: God is eternal, he was born of a woman and remains with us every day. We live in this trust, in this trust we find the path of our life."
ZE07100309 - 2007-10-03