Vatican City - December 15, 2009
The Vatican has released details of a pre-synodal council meeting for the Synod of Bishops on the Middle East, due to take place in Rome from October 10th until 24th next year.The meeting was held on 24th and 25th November in Rome. Participants included Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, the Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon, Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem. Also present were the Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria, Antonios Naguib, the Syrian Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, Ignace Youssif III Younan, the Greek-Melkite Patriarch of Antioch, Gregorios III Laham, and the Armenian Catholic Patriarch, Nerses Bedros XIX. In his inaugural address, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, stressed the theme of witness, citing the 1997 Apostolic Exhortation published after the Special Assembly for Lebanon. He said that in the vast region of the Middle East, which includes the land where the mysteries of redemption took place, Christians are called to be witnesses to the death and resurrection of Christ by the gift of the Spirit who inspires believers to act not individually, but in communion and unity with the whole Church.
"Evangelizing action," continued Archbishop Eterovic, "should make known to new generations the great heritage of faith and witness of the individual churches, and that task involves all categories Church: bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons and the Catholic lay faithful in the diaspora, in different situations and environments life, as a family, the institutes of religious sciences, educational and health institutions." Individual members of the pre-synodal council then updated those present on the socio-political in the Middle East and focused in particular on the Lineamenta [draft outline] for the October Synod whose theme is: "The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Testimony. 'The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul' (Acts 4, 32).'"
A comprehensive and thorough discussion, held in two separate working groups, took place after which proposals were integrated into a draft text which is now nearing finalization.
The participants also dedicated much time to the theme of deepening of communion in the Catholic Church and, in particular, between the Patriarchal churches and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as well between the various episcopal conferences in the Middle East.
The Vatican statement noted that of "great importance" is to encourage more and more communion with non-Catholic Churches and ecclesial communities which is "real although not yet full."
The council members also devoted time to the issue of relations between Jews and Muslims, "stressing in particular the need for dialogue and cooperation in various fields of social and cultural activities," the statement said.
The next meeting was set for 23 and 24 April 2010. |
