The Bishop of Rome and universal jurisdiction: An ecumenical obstacle?

The article discusses the historical context and theological implications of the First Vatican Council's decrees on papal infallibility and universal jurisdiction. It highlights the concerns raised by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and former British Prime Minister William Gladstone regarding the Pope's authority and its impact on the autonomy of bishops and the allegiance of Catholics. The article also mentions Pope John Paul II's 1995 encyclical "Ut Unum Sint" as an attempt to promote ecumenical dialogue and address these concerns. The recent study document by the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity acknowledges the obstacles to ecumenism posed by the Vatican Council's decrees and suggests the need for a reassessment of their interpretation. [Extracted from the article]