Fr. Lombardi editorial: A Synod of service for all

What is the Synod message asking of the governments of the peoples of the Middle East?
That Christians "can enjoy all the rights of citizenship, freedom of conscience and religion, freedom in teaching and education and use of the media" because "they are original and authentic citizens, loyal to their homeland and faithful to all their national obligations. "
What does it say in its appeal to the international community?
That "we condemn violence and terrorism, of whatever origin, and any religious extremism. We condemn all forms of racism, antisemitism, anti-Christianity and Islamophobia, and call on religions to assume their responsibility in promoting dialogue among cultures and civilizations in our region and throughout the world".
The interventions of the Jewish Sunni and the Shia representatives were greeted with applause, consideration and openness. The members of the Synod expressed themselves with great freedom, with loyalty and serenity, presenting the overall picture of their ecclesial communities. Certainly, they are an assembly with very deep roots in a land marked by dramatic tensions and problems, but the ecclesial nature of this assembly, its religious, spiritual, motivation rendered it capable of rising to a higher perspective, to a vision inspired by the realism of that hope which springs from faith lived in our history.
We hope that everyone realizes this and recognizes that the Synod will bear fruit, first of all for the Church, but also for all the peoples of the Middle East, yes everyone!