Do Orthodox catholics accept the authority of the Pope or not?

Question

I'm really confused, I'm doing a leaflet on the different denominations of the christian church but I don't understand whether the Orthodox catholics accept the authority of the Pope after the great schism in 1054 - or does he have nothing to do with that religion? And can anyone give me a bit of detail about whatever your answer is?!
Thanks!
Lorna

Answer 1

"filioque" is the separator.

A union between the Frankish kings & Pope, which reached its summit with the coronation of Charles (the Great), son of Pepin, in Rome in 800 A.D. The relationship between the Popes & Charles (rule 768-814) developed. The unfortunate effect of this allience was that it alienated the Eastern Christian Church, who maintained loyalty to the Byzantine Empiror in Constantinople whom they saw as the true Roman Empiror. Charles the Great didn't help the relationship between Western and Eastern Church when he disagreed with the decision of the Second Nicaea in the East (787 A.D.), fought to caputure territory claimed by the Byzantine emperor, and wanted to compel the Eastern Church to add a new phase, filoque to the Nicene Creed.

The Creed originally stated that the Holy Spirit proceeds 'from the Father' ; the Western version that Charles advocated (and which Roman Catholics still use today) says that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father 'and the Son' (filioque).

This situation illustrates the problem of the close alliance between the Chruch and state. Charles the Great was a great defender and promoter of the Christain faith and the Catholic Church; however, he also wanted to control the Church and make theological decisions. At one point, Charles wrote the pope and told him that it was the pope's job to pray for the Church, but his job, as emperor, to rule it. In theory, there was a division between worldly (temporal) and spiritual authority in this alliance between church and state; in practice, however, a strong emperor or king would always take control of somespiritual affais, and a strong pope would take control of worldly or political affairs.

Answer 2

Since the Schism of 1054, none of the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchates accept the authority of the Pope.

When the Pope claimed infalliability in the 1850's due to the literal meaning of Jesus' words, Peter, upon you I build my church, the Eastern Orthodox were deeply upset.

In the last 40 years, there has been increased dialog and an acknowledgment that the Pope of Rome is a brother bishop BUT he does not tell anyone else what to do. The Patriarch of Constantinople is "first among equals" and the other poster is correct when she states that the coronation of Charlemagne furthered division inside the Christian church. Recall that the Christian church remained unified at Charlemagne's coronation.

Answer 3

Yes - their pope. Hint - not pope Benedict.