A vision of unity from a Catholic perspective

Looking at the vision of unity from the perspective of the Catholic Church three questions arise: (1) What is the Catholic Church's ultimate ecumenical goal? (2) What should unity in practice look like? and (3) How can it be achieved? If the Church is understood rather as a sacramental entity than an institution, the 'Christ mystery' in the Eucharist releases and demands communion in the apostolic faith, the sacraments and a ministry serving the two. The intra-Catholic elements of the interdependence of eucharistic and ecclesial communion, ministry and church, Church universal and particular churches constitute the parameters for a still imperfect communio of denominational churches which could become local churches in the full sense of the word. In this model of 'ecumenical' communio ecclesiology the papal ministry is conceived of as being at the centre of unity and collegiality rather than merely having juridical tasks for the governing of the Church.