Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI expressed his gratitude for the substantial support offered “to the specific mission of the Bishop of Rome in overseeing universal charity” through loving care of the Eastern Catholic Churches, to the members of the Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO), whom he received in an audience on June 19, on the occasion of their annual meeting. The Pope mentioned that everyday life and the special mission of the Eastern Churches, "especially at the ecumenical and the interreligious level, must be supported by the entire Catholic Church.” Therefore, the Congregation for Eastern Churches and the ROACO “become able interpreters for spiritual and material support for all Catholics, so that these communities may fully experience the mystery of the one Church of Christ in fidelity to its own spiritual traditions.”
The Catholic communities of Armenia and Georgia, that “were among the first to receive the light of Christ,” were the focus of ROACO’s meeting. Greeting his brother Bishops that serve the People of God in these areas, Benedict XVI affirmed that: “by living humbly and fraternally with other Christian Churches, and by generously serving the poor, these Catholic communities, small though they are, can express in a very practical manner the communion of love proper to the universal Catholic Church.”
Recalling the sufferings of Iraqi Christians, the Pope mentioned the murder of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul of the Chaldeans: “Like many other Iraqi Christians, the Archbishop took up his cross and followed the Lord...He was a man of peace and dialogue. I encourage the aid organizations present to continue their efforts in supporting the Iraqi Christians.”
The Holy Father later mentioned “the recent events in Lebanon, where the country has apparently found the path of dialogue and understanding,” reiterating his hope that “Lebanon may respond decisively to her vocation to be - for the Middle East and the entire world - a sign of the real possibility for peaceful and constructive coexistence between human beings.” In reaching this goal, the Holy Father invoked the intercession of the Venerable Fr. Jacques Ghazir Haddad, who will be beatified next Sunday, speaking of his hope that the example of the new blessed may touch “the hearts of young Lebanese, showing them the sweetness of an evangelical life at the service of the poor and the weak, and bringing them to become faithful witnesses of the Catholic faith in the Arab world.”
In concluding his speech, Benedict XVI once again thanked all those that oversee the cause of Latin and Eastern Rite communities in the Holy Land, “which is vital for the entire Church.” “I share their trials and their hopes and fervently pray that I may be able to visit them in person, just as I pray that certain signs of peace, which I greet with immense hope, may soon be put into effect. appeal to the leaders of nations, that the Middle East - in particular the Holy Land, Lebanon and Iraq - may be offered its longed-for peace and social stability, while respecting the fundamental rights of the person, including that of real religious freedom. Peace", the Pope concluded, "is the only way to face the serious problem of displaced people and refugees and to halt immigration, especially Christian immigration which affects the Oriental Churches so deeply.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 20/6/2008)
