(August 06, 2012) The Catholic Churches of the Middle East are welcoming Pope Benedict
XVI to the region next month, hoping his September 14-16 visit to Lebanon will strengthen
the hope of Christians, the process of Islamic-Christian dialogue and the values of
justice and peace in the troubled region. The heads of the 7 Churches of the region,
viz., the Maronite Church, the Armenian Catholic Church, the Chaldean Church of the
East, the Coptic Church, the Latin Church in Jerusalem, the Melkite Church and the
Syriac Church, have each posted individual messages on their official website for
the Pope’s Lebanese visit. Speaking on behalf of all the bishops of the Middle East,
Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem, the President of the Assembly of Catholic
Ordinaries of the Holy Land (AOCTS) and well as President of the Conference of Latin
Bishops of the Arab Region (CELRA), expressed gratitude to the Pope for his closeness
with the people of the Middle east that is experiencing radical events. He said that
the papal visit to present them with the Apostolic Exhortation of the Special Synod
of Bishops for the Middle East held in the Vatican in Oct 2010, will encourage the
Christians of the land to be a sign of communion and witness in the region and throughout
the world. Patriarch Twal noted the Middle East was going difficult conditions and
they feel the need to hear the Pope’s voice, teaching, prayer and his closeness with
them. “We hope your visit to Lebanon and the words that you will address to the Middle
East and the international community will strengthen the hope of Christians, the process
of Islamic-Christian dialogue and the values of justice and peace,” Patriarch Twal
wrote.