(March 5, 2009) Archbishop Celestino Migliore addressed a symposium on Christianity
in the Middle East, which met to discuss ways of supporting these dwindling communities.
The archbishop, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, noted, "There
in the Middle East exists not only the history of salvation, but also the geography
of salvation." The symposium, organized by Christian Arab and Middle Eastern Churches
Together, along with Tele-Lumiere/Noursat, the largest Arabic speaking Christian television
network, was hosted by the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle of Detroit.
The three-day conference concluded last week, and focused on the theme "Christianity
in the Middle East: Ancient Yet Ever New." A Tele-Lumiere press release announced
that the archbishop was joined by dignitaries and over 300 guests in his address at
the symposium banquet. "In our day, many Christians and Muslims happen to meet each
other as in the desert night, where the human silhouette is completely distorted,"
he noted. "Muslims look at Christians as the monsters of the Crusades, as described
in the history books," he said. "Christians on the other hand," the archbishop added,
"see Muslims as a threatening monster of religious intolerance." The archbishop mentioned
the Vatican's particular interest in the Middle East, "small though its Christian
population is, because of its meaningful part in Christianity." The prelate lauded
the efforts of Christians to obtain religious freedom and equality. Panel participants
appealed for support of the "continuing presence of Christians in the region and their
efforts to live and prosper in peace."