Pope inaugurates Middle East Synod with solemn Mass

(October 11, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East with a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Sunday, expressing hope that the two-week meeting will renew the communion of the Catholic Church in the Middle East. The theme of the Oct. 10-24 synod is: "The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness. 'Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul' (Acts 4:32)." Concelebrating with the Pontiff were 177 synod fathers, and some 70 priests from various ecclesiastic rites and traditions of the Middle East region. In his homily the Holy Father noted that the synod's working document points out that "under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it wishes to re-enliven communion of the Catholic Church in the Middle East." He added that this communion will take place "first of all within each Church, between all its members: patriarch, bishop, priests, religious persons, persons of consecrated life and the laity," and "thereby in the relationships with the other Churches." He observed that "this occasion is also propitious to constructively continue the dialogue with Jews,” with whom Christians are tied by an indissoluble bond.., as with Muslims." The Pope added that "the workings of the synodal assembly are oriented to the witness of Christians on a personal, family and social level." He explained, "This requires the reinforcing of their Christian identity through the Word of God and the sacraments." "Despite the difficulties," the Holy Father said, "the Christians in the Holy Land are called to enliven their consciousness of being the living stones of the Church in the Middle East, at the holy places of our salvation." “However,” he stressed that “living in a dignified manner in one’s own country is above all a fundamental human right: therefore, the conditions of peace and justice, which are necessary for the harmonious development of all those living in the region, should be promoted.” The Holy Father thus urged the international community to support a stable constructive path towards peace and he also exhorted the most prevalent religions in the region to promote the spiritual and cultural values that unite men and to exclude any expression of violence.