Divisions within our communities hinder the life of the Church: Pope

Vatican City, 30 Nov 2013: Pope Francis on Saturday received a group of Greek Melkite Catholic pilgrims in the Vatican. While addressing them the Pope said: ‘My thoughts go immediately to the brothers and sisters of Syria, who suffer from a long- time "great tribulation" ; pray for those who lost their lives and for their loved ones. May the Lord wipe away the tears of these children. We firmly believe in the power of prayer and reconciliation, and we renew our heartfelt appeal to those responsible to cease all violence, and find durable solution through dialogue, the Pope added.

On the occasion, Pope Francis urged for mutual respect among the various religious denominations, to ensure that all future based on the inalienable rights of the person, including freedom of religion. Your Church for centuries has been able to live peacefully with other religions and is called to play a role of fraternity in the Middle East, the Pope told them, adding ‘we are not resigned to thinking about the Middle East without Christians.’

The Pope exhorted the communities in the diaspora to hold fast to the human and spiritual roots of the Melkite tradition, because the entire Church needs the heritage of the Christian East. You are a visible sign to all of our Eastern brethren of the desired communion with the Successor of Peter, the Pope reminded them. Let us ask the Lord to help us to continue the ecumenical journey, in fidelity to the principles of the Second Vatican Council.

Recalling the Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in the Middle East, the Pope said that it has provided very effective guidance so that the pastors and the faithful to live their respective responsibilities in the Church and in society. The divisions within our communities seriously hinder the life of the Church, the communion and witness, observed Pope Francis. He invited all- the Patriarch, the bishops, priests, men and women religious, and lay faithful - to contribute to building up the Body of Christ. Source: VR Sedoc