Pope Benedict drops title of `Patriarch of Occident'

Pope Benedict XVI has dropped the title of Patriarch of the Occident, one of the many he holds as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI has dropped the title of "Patriarch of the Occident," one of the many he holds as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and this could herald a clash with the Russian Orthodox Church.

HT Image

The title, which dates from the fifth century, has been dropped from the official list of papal titles contained in the Pontifical directory for 2006, which has been printed at the Vatican but not yet released.

The move could have "negative repercussions" for relations with the Orthodox Church.

"It's not difficult to imagine that the title's lapse could be badly interpreted by the Eastern patriarchs, either those of the Orthodox Church or by those belonging to the Eastern Catholic rite.

That world is very attached to tradition and could interpret the papal move as a claim of superiority over the ranks of patriarchs -- an indirect affirmation of the 'universal patriarch, sources said."

However, experts say that dropping the "Occident" title had no significance in the current debate over a clash of civilizations between the West and Islam.