Yves Congar as a Precursor to Catholic Principles of Ecumenism

The author analyzes the work Chrétiens désunis. Principes d’un «œcumenisme» catholique by Yves Congar (1937) and shows why the French Dominican can be considered a precursor of ecumenism in the Roman Catholic Church. The argument is based on defining the nature of the reunification process, its starting point, the goal of the reunification, and the way in which the relationship between Catholicism and ecumenism is framed. In lieu of the then valid concept of conversion on the basis of the Catholic Church, or the simple absorption of individuals by the fully formed Church, the French theologian proposes a complement or integration into the unity of the Church. As a result of this process, the united Church would be no other body than the present Catholic Church but it would be richer and more complete.