Council Underlines Synod Objectives
Terrasanta.net | May 5, 2010
St. Peter Square, Vatican City.
(Milan/e.p.) - An assembly of senior Church leaders have underlined the objectives of the upcoming Synod on the Middle East, and expressed their confidence that despite the region’s troubles, justice and peace can be achieved.
Members of the Council for the Middle East of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops said in a statement that the October 10-24 synod will have two main objectives: "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 be an ' authentic Christian witness, in contact with other Churches and ecclesial communities”.
The Council, reporting on its third meeting April 23-24, said it believed the Synod "will be a valuable opportunity to also examine the religious and social situation, to give Christians a clear vision of how to be active witnesses of Christ in the context of Muslim-majority society.”
This therefore means reflecting on the present situation “which is not an easy one”, the Council statement continued, “marked by conflict and instability, which cause the exodus of the population, including many Christians.”
However, it added that "despite the difficulties” of the present time, the Church, “relying on divine providence, remains confident of a future of peace, justice and respectful collaboration with members of Judaism and Islam, for the good of all inhabitants of the region”.
During the meeting, a draft program was produced, on the basis of responses to the Lineamenta, supplemented by contributions received from the Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris, episcopal conferences, departments of the Roman Curia and various religious institutions. This draft will serve as a study document and agenda for the Synod Fathers.
Finally, the statement said that members of the pre-synodal council will attend a papal Mass with Benedict XVI in Nicosia when he visits Cyprus June 4-6. During the trip, the Pope will deliver the Instrumentum Laboris to pastors of churches in the Middle East.
Present members of the pre-synodal council comprised Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, 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, Coptic Patriarch Antonios Naguib of Alexandria; Patriarch Ignace Youssif Younan III of Antioch of the Syrians, Greek-Melkite Patriarch Gregorios III Laham of Antioch; Patriarch Tarmouni Nerses Bedros XIX of Cilicia of the Armenians; Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem, Archbishop Ramzi Garmou, the Chaldean archbishop of Tehran and president of the Episcopal Conference of Iran, Bishop Luigi Padovese, OFMCap., Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia and president of the Episcopal Conference of Turkey.
Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, was unable to attend.