Intervention of Mons. Emmanuel DABBAGHIAN, Archbishop of Babylon of the Armenians (IRAQ)

I ask that you consider all the problems of the Middle East as “signs of the times” wished for and allowed by the Lord. The Lord said: And yet not one [sparrow] falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Saint Paul said that the Good Lord makes all profit return to those who love Him.
Here are some examples of the signs of the times.
1. We have heard about the problems of the Holy Land, emigration, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, injustice, the lack of respect for human rights, etc... But all this was allowed by the Lord for even deeper reasons. Because the Holy Land is a country of pilgrimage, and is where the Lord revealed himself and lived among us (Jn 1:14). The Lord wishes to be visited, loved, consulted... And since the pilgrimage is an answer to the spiritual need of man just as in the Vatican, even if there are no inhabitants, the Vatican is always peopled by pilgrims. Even more so the Holy Land which possesses this unique and divine sanctuary must be filled with pilgrims. Therefore I propose to the Eminent Synodal Fathers to ask all the Bishops of the whole world (Eastern and Western) through the Holy Father, who has the authority and the charism, to take charge (of those he is able to) to organize each of them in an annual pilgrimage, establishing for each bishop a fixed date, so that all the days of the year are occupied, and the Holy Land will be peopled by pilgrims, who, after having being enriched by the Lord’s graces become in turn like the “Samaritan” of the witnesses of Christ. Let us point out again that the influx of pilgrims to the Holy Land would convince the inhabitants who have emigrated to return to their homeland.
2. It remains a sign of the times the emigration of part of our faithful to Europe, to America, to revive their faith.
It remains a sign of the times the emigration of millions of migrants to the Gulf who demand our spiritual help. And to conclude, we should remember that the Risen One said: make disciples of all nations (Sunnites, Shiites and Jews) and fill your church with people.
I thank the Lord because the multitude of Synodal Fathers are of one heart, one soul, and because they are the successors of the Apostles, surely they will change the world, despite the many difficulties. Thank you.

[00179-02.01] [IN122] [Original text: French]