(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.