The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Bernard as a member of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU) and as a member of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue (DID).

The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity is entrusted with the promotion, within the Catholic Church, of an authentic ecumenical spirit according to the conciliar decree Unitatis redintegratio.  

At the same time, the DCPU is active in all areas that can contribute to promoting Christian unity by strengthening relationships with other Churches and Ecclesial Communities. 

It organizes and oversees dialogue and collaboration with the other Churches and World Communions. Since its creation, it has also cooperated closely with the World Council of Churches (WCC) based in Geneva. From 1968, Catholic theologians have been full members of the “Faith and Order” Commission, the theological department of the WCC.

Similarly, it is the task of the DPCU to name Catholic observers at various ecumenical gatherings and in turn to invite observers or ‘fraternal delegates’ of other Churches or Ecclesial Communities to major events of the Catholic Church.

The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue promotes and supervises relations with members and groups of non-Christian religions, with the exception of Judaism, competence for which belongs to the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
 
The DID works to ensure that dialogue with the followers of other religions takes place in an appropriate way, with an attitude of listening, esteem and respect. It fosters various kinds of relations with them so that, through the contribution of all, peace, freedom, social justice, the protection and safeguarding of creation, and spiritual and moral values may be promoted.

Archbishop Bernard is already co-Chairman of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), with oversight of the third phase of Anglican-Catholic dialogue. He is also Chair of the Bishops’ Conference Department of Dialogue and Unity.  Archbishop Bernard also sits on the Mixed Commission of the Conference of Religious.

On his appointment, Archbishop Bernard said:

"I regard it as a privilege to serve the Holy See as a member of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.

"I am immensely grateful to our own diocesan Commission for Promoting Christian Unity and our Commission for Interreligious Dialogue for all that they undertake to promote such good relations between the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese and churches and other faith communities – work that is vital in a world where there are so many divisions and misunderstandings.

"I look forward to participating in meetings of these two Dicasteries in the years ahead."