As a follow-up to this post about the Pope dropping the title of “Patriarch of the West”, when this showed up on OrthodoxyToday.org today, it generated this comment that the title-removal might have more to do with Western redistricting changes than outreach to the Orthodox:

One Catholic commentator has suggested that this move might not be connected with ecumenical outreach to Orthodoxy, but rather that it presages a re-organization of the Roman Church, such that regional patriarchates will be created under the Pope in various parts of the world.

It strikes me that the ecumenical impact of such a move would be very negative. Although it would create a structure into which the various autocephalous Orthodox Churches could be integrated fairly easily, the Patriarchs, even the ones of the four ancient Patriarchates would have to be under the authority of the Pope, not just behind him in order of seniority or dignity. I can’t see them ever agreeing to that, unless there is a massive change of sentiment (a change I’m not inclined to favor).