Card. Sandri in Egypt - speaks on the Year of Faith

January 10, 2013: The life of the Catholic community in Egypt knows how to effectively announce the Son of God through the life of sacramental catechesis, charity, education, and service, said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, on Wednesday. He was speaking at a meeting in Cairo with the leaders of apostolic activities in Egypt.
Citing Pope Benedict’s Apostolic letter "Porta Fidei", the Cardinal said: "The Church as a whole and all her Pastors, like Christ, must set out, to lead people out of the desert, towards the place of life, towards friendship with the Son of God, towards the One who gives us life, and life in abundance.”

‘Do not forget that the intense days of the Son of God were preceded and followed by even more intense dialogue with the Father, and it is in those moments of absolute intimacy of the disciples dared to make a request: "Lord, teach us to pray", Cardinal Sandri reminded them.

We cannot and do not want to forget the age-old tradition of Egypt, the leaders of religion and culture that has known and must be confirmed in the present and in the future: a culture increasingly open to God's revelation, the Cardinal said.

Referring to the faithful witnesses of Christ, Cardinal Sandri specially recalled Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and Blessed Charles de Foucault, who preferred nothing but the works of charity, and the encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist.
As the Apostle says, "rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith", we too can be an oasis for those we meet every day, and an entrance to the house of God and encounter with Christ, the true light of the world.

The objectives of the Year of Faith, quoting the Pope, the Cardinal said:

First of all that is asked of us by grace we are close to and directly involved in the Church's life (a) to grow in awareness of the gift received intensifying especially the sacramental life of personal and communal.
In this way we can (b) share the Church's mission to all peoples: the year of faith expect a renewed missionary zeal, as in the world the different religions meet and compare. And we hope the confirmation of the presence of the Church in the world, with due support and defense of Christians who do not see recognized religious freedom. To all alike, so even Christians are assured of their religious beliefs.
But the third purpose of the faith aims to (c) knocking at the heart of so many Christians tired and indifferent to rediscover the joy of Christ and come to Him for the true and eternal life.
I am grateful to each of you in advance for your cooperation in this perspective. A good year all in the Lord Jesus Thank you.