Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “We all desire for the Holy Land, Iraq and the Middle East the gift of a stable peace and solid coexistence. These are born from respect of human rights, of families, communities and peoples, and by the overcoming of religious, cultural or social discrimination.” These were the words of the Holy Father Benedict XVI on June 25, during the audience he held with members of the Assembly of Societies for Aid to Eastern Churches (ROACO), for its summer session.
The Holy Father encouraged “the brothers and sisters who, in the East, share the inestimable gift of baptism, to persevere in the faith and, despite the many sacrifices, to stay where they were born.” He also exhorted the eastern migrants “not to forget their origins, above all the religious” and paid “special homage to Christians who suffer violence because of the Gospel.” “I continue to count on the leaders of nations to guarantee in a real way and everywhere, without distinction, the public and community profession of the religious beliefs of each one.”
Having welcomed the commitment of the Catholic Eastern Churches in achieving the objectives proposed for the Year for Priests, paying particular attention to the training of candidates for the priesthood and the training of the clergy engaged in pastoral work, the Pontiff recalled that “in the ancient world, the East was the headquarters of great schools of priestly spirituality” and “when priests are guided in their service by truly spiritual motives, then the laity also is reinforced in its commitment to be engaged in temporal things according to their own Christian vocation.”
Lastly, Benedict XVI recalled the preparation for the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, thanking God for this initiative “which is already producing the beneficial fruits of 'communion and witness' for which the synod was initially convoked” and for “the broad cooperation provided thus far by the Eastern Churches” in this historic event.
“I ask you to contribute with your works to maintain alive the "hope that does not disappoint" among the Christians of the East,” the Holy Father said in closing. “In the 'little flock' (Luke 12:32) that they make up already operating is the future of God, and the 'narrow way' that they are following is described by the Gospel as 'way of life.' We would always like to be by their side!” Benedict XVI closed with “a particular remembrance of Bishop Padovese, recently deceased.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 26/6/2010)
