A Tragic Wound

Last night, I finished reading Orientale Lumen, John Paul II's Apostolic Letter written in 1995 to make the centenary of Orientaliom Dignitas. Towards the end of the letter, John Paul II offers some thoughts that I found very interesting in light of recent discussions I've had about the future of the Eastern Catholic Churches. I think a lot of people think that Byzantine Catholics will eventually become part of the Roman Catholic Church, using the Roman Liturgy and accepting Rome's authority in all things.
I think, on the other hand, that is far more likely that if the Byzantine Catholic Churches are ever made part of another Church, it will make far more sense to join them to the Orthodox Churches. John Paul addressed this in Orientale Lumen when he wrote:
"It has been stressed several times that the full union of the Catholic Eastern Churches with the Church of Rome which has already been achieved must not imply a diminished awareness of their own authenticity and originality. Wherever this has occurred, the Second Vatican Council has urged them to rediscover their full identity...These Churches carry a tragic wound, for they are still kept from full communion with the Eastern Orthodox Churches despite sharing in the heritage of their fathers. A constant, shared conversion is indispensable for them to advance resolutely and energetically towards mutual understanding. And conversion is also required of the Latin Church, that she may respect and full appreciate the dignity of Eastern Christians, and accept gratefully the spiritual treasures of which the Eastern Catholic Churches are the bearers, to the benefit of the entire catholic communion; that she may show concretely, far more than in the past, how much she esteems and admire the Christian East and how essential she considers its contribution to the full realization of the Church's universality."

I think that a lot of people, at least of my acquaintance, are not aware of the history and traditions of the Byzantine Catholic Churches and our connections to the Orthodox Churches. I also think it is important to recognize the traditions of the other Churches. We all need to learn about each other and work together to help the cause of unity along.