Pope concludes Middle East Synod urging for peace to stem exodus

(October 25, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday called for greater religious freedom in the Middle East and said that peace there is possible, urgently needed and the best remedy to the exodus of Christians from the region. He made the appeal during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Sunday to mark the end of the two-week Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, which was called to discuss the future of embattled Christians in the largely Muslim region. The Oct. 10-24 synod, which gathered together some 170 synod fathers to discuss the situation of the Church in the region, reflected on the theme: "The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness." In his homily, Pope Benedict called freedom of religion «one of the fundamental human rights, which each state should always respect» and said the issue should be the subject of dialogue with Muslims. The pontiff said that, while freedom of worship exists in many Mideast countries, the space given to the actual freedom to practice «is often very limited.» Expanding this space, he said, is necessary to guarantee «true freedom to live and profess one's faith.» Addressing the problem of the dwindling numbers of Christians in the Middle East, the Pope assured them that "even if they are few, they are bearers of the Good News of the love of God for man…” He reminded Christians that they are "full-fledged citizens" and that they "can and must do their part" in society to become "builders of peace and apostles of reconciliation." He acknowledged that conflicts, wars, violence and terrorism have gone on for too long in the Middle East and called for peace insisting it is urgent and “indispensable for a life of dignity for human beings and society.” "Peace, which is a gift of God,” he argued, “is also the result of the efforts of men of goodwill, of the national and international institutions, in particular of the states most involved in the search for a solution to conflicts.”