2010-05-04 11:51:33

Call to 'Strengthen Christians' in Middle East


(04 May 10 – RV) On April 23 and 24 2010 the Preparatory Council for the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East met in Rome. It’s members include : His Beatitude Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, Prefect the Congregation for Oriental Churches, His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts; His Beatitude Ignace Youssif Younan III, Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, His Beatitude Gregorios III Laham, BS, Patriarch of Antioch of the Greek Melkites His Beatitude Tarmouni Nerses Bedros XIX, Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians; Archbishop Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch Jerusalem, Archbishop Ramzi Garmou, the Chaldean archbishop of Tehran, President of the Episcopal Conference of Iran, Bishop Luigi Padovese, OFM, Cap., Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia, President of the Episcopal Conference of Turkey.
His Beatitude Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, was unable to attend the meeting.
After the greeting and introduction of the Secretary General, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, individual members made interventions concerning the ecclesial situation in the socio-political context of the various regions of the Middle East. They focused in particular on the elaboration of a draft of the Instrumentum laboris, the working document for the Special Assembly.
The Synod, as is known, will take place October 10 to 24 2010 on the theme. "The Catholic Church in the Middle East: communion and witness. ` The community of believers was of one heart and mind '(Acts,4, 32).
The objective of the Special Assembly for the Middle East is twofold: to confirm and strengthen Christians in their identity through the Word of God and the Sacraments, and revive the ecclesial communion between the Churches so they may they have a genuine Christian witness, in contact with other Churches and ecclesial communities. Hence the urgency of a commitment to a convinced ecumenism, "they may all be one, because the world may believe" (Jn 17, 21).
The upcoming Synod will be “a valuable opportunity to also investigate the social and religious situation, to give the Christians a clear vision for the direction to be active witnesses of Christ in the context of a Muslim-majority society”. The statement describes the situation in the Middle East as ‘far from easy’ because of conflict and instability, causing the exodus of the population, including many Christians.
Responses to the Lineamenta were examined and members of the Council decided integrate various proposals received from the Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris, the Episcopal Conferences, offices of the Roman Curia, and from various religious institutions on issues that have emerged with greater intensity in reference to the life of the Church in the Middle East. Once drafted in its final form, the text will serve the Synod Fathers as a study document and agenda for discussions in the Synod Hall.
Members of the Council will be in Cyprus this June to participate in the Eucharist presided over by Pope Benedict XVI in Nicosia, during his upcoming apostolic visit to the Island. During the celebration, the Pope will distribute the 'Instrumentum laboris [working document]to the pastors of churches in the Middle East.









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