http://www.catholicherald.co.uk - The first English translation of the Pope's announcement on harmonising Eastern and Latin canon law. Translated by Fr James Bradley and Ed Condon

APOSTOLIC LETTER GIVEN MOTU PROPRIO

OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF FRANCIS

BY WHICH ARE CHANGED

VARIOUS NORMS OF THE CODE OF CANON LAW

Moved by Our constant solicitude for the concordance between the two Codes We became aware of some points not in perfect harmony between the rules of the Code of Canon Law and those of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

The two codes have, on the one hand, common standards, and on the other, peculiarities, which make them mutually independent. It is however necessary that even in the particular rules there be a sufficient amount of correlation. In fact these discrepancies could affect negatively on pastoral practice, especially in cases which pertain to the relationships of individuals belonging respectively to the Latin Church and to an Eastern Church.

This is particularly true in our day in which the mobility of the population has effected the presence of a large number of Eastern faithful in Latin territories. This new situation generates many pastoral and legal issues, which need to be resolved with appropriate standards. It must be recalled that the Eastern faithful are obliged to observe their own rite wherever they are (cf. CCEO c. 40 § 3; Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, decree Orientalium Ecclesiarum, 6) and therefore the “competent ecclesiastical authority has the serious responsibility to provide them with appropriate means for them to fulfill this obligation” (cf. CCEO c. 193 § 1; CIC c. 383 §§ 1-2; post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Pastores Gregis, 72). Legislative concordance is certainly one of the means by which the development of the venerable Eastern rites is beneficially promoted (cf. CCEO c. 39), allowing the Churches sui iuris to act pastorally in the most effective way.

CWN - Christian leaders from around the Middle East, including six Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs, gathered in Amman, Jordan, at a meeting of the Council of Churches of the Middle East.

Participants in the meeting agreed to send a delegation to major political centers to explain the plight of the Middle East’s Christians.

Good wishes for a happy feast!
Eid ul-Adha
12 September 2016 AD/ 10 Dhul Hijjah 1437 AH

In the Middle East, it is a thing of beauty to see feasts of faith becoming feasts for the children of faith. Indeed, our Muslim and Christian feasts are common feasts: this was and always will be so in our Eastern countries.

Thus blessed Eid ul-Adha unites us through the story of Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice his son. That is why Abraham is called our father in faith, as he is one “with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself.¹” The story is a lesson for us all, since God, having called upon Abraham to sacrifice his son, then required him to spare his life, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad.” (Genesis 22: 12 cf. Surah As-Saffat 37: 105) This divine revelation in Scripture was a lesson aimed at abolishing child sacrifice as an expression of faith in God. This passage calls on us all rather to form a united front to defend life, which is a divine gift to mankind. That is why Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10: 10) God says, “I desired mercy and not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6: 6) As in the venerable Qur’an, God is “merciful and compassionate.”

Patriarch Gregorios III addresses the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Synod in Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine, 4 September 2016

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Patriarchal Synod opened today with a celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the historic St. George's Sobor in Lviv. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, father and head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was the main celebrant. Forty bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church from Ukraine, Western and Central Europe, North and South America and Australia were joined by His Beatitude Gregory III, the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem. The week-long Synod has as its main theme "Diakonia - service to others," particularly significant in a time of war and humanitarian crisis.

Patriarch Gregorios III brought fraternal greetings and emphasised that relations with the UGCC are most important for his Melkite Greek Catholic Church and for other Christian Churches besieged by war in the Middle East. Discussions with the Patriarch centred around the topic of armed conflict and its devastating effect in Syria and Ukraine. Addressing the synodal fathers Patriarch Gregory emphasised that the UGCC is the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches and that closer cooperation between Greek Catholics in the Middle East and Eastern Europe should take the form of regular episcopal encounters. He also proposed the creation of a joint formation programme for future priests conducted in the Holy Land, the creation of joint theological and canonical commissions, and other initiatives.

The leaders of the two Churches expressed heartfelt solidarity with each other's suffering flocks and pledged to foster closer relations. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, on behalf of the bishops, thanked Patriarch Gregorios for his kind words of fraternity and solidarity. This was Patriarch Gregorios's third visit to Ukraine. His charismatic words and energetic manner have endeared him to the people of Ukraine.

(5 September 2016)

My brotherly greeting is addressed first of all to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, father and head of the illustrious Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and worthy successor to the Servant of God, Andrey Sheptytsky, heroic Cardinal Yosyf Slipyj, Cardinal Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky (who in Rome gave me the cross of his twenty-fifth anniversary of priestly ordination, and was hailed as patriarch in the Cathedral of Lviv on his triumphant return to the Ukraine) and of His most Eminent Beatitude my dear friend, venerable Cardinal Lubomyr Huzar, who accompanies you in constant prayer and courageous bearing of illness.

To your Holy Synod I bring greetings from your Melkite Greek Catholic sister-Church in Damascus, spiritual home of the Holy Apostle Paul, and from Syria, cradle of Christianity, in the name of our Holy Synod and faithful dwelling in the Patriarchates of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem, the countries of the Middle East (Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and other Arab countries), and (as is the case with you) the diaspora on every continent.

For the last five and a half years our country, Syria, has been walking the way of the cross. All our Syrian citizens are experiencing this: Churches, patriarchs, hierarchs, priests, monks, nuns and lay-persons of all denominations are supporting one another and bearing this heavy cross together.

CWN - The head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Holy See, has called upon “Muslims and non-Muslim people of good will” to repudiate the Islamic State, which currently controls approximately 15% of Iraq and 30% of Syria.

“We know that the majority of Muslims are neutral, unbiased, open-minded and willing to work hard for the benefit of their countries and their fellow citizens,” Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako said in a message posted on the patriarchate’s website. “Their initiative should be a united and strong stance, with which they can together stop the spread of ISIS cancer by standing against isolation, extremism, hatred, violence.”

Chicago - His Grace Bishop Richard Stephen (Seminack) 74, fourth eparch of the the St. Nicholas Eparchy of Chicago for Ukrainians, fell asleep in the Lord August 16, 2016.

After a prolonged battle with Cancer, he died at Alden Poplar Creek Rehabilitation Center in Hoffman Estates, IL.

The priests, deacons and the staff of the Saint Nicholas Eparchy extend condolences to his family, friends, parishioners and all whose life he touched!

Please remember Bishop Richard in your prayers.

May his memory be eternal!

Click here for the details of the funeral arrangements.

This summer, His Beatitude attended the CRANS MONTANA FORUM ON CENTRAL TO FAR-EASTERN EUROPE: Building the New World Power from June 29 to July 1, 2016 – Vienna (Austria)

 
His Beatitude Gregorios III Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem
 
Big names get together at the Crans Montana Forum

(Excerpt from EuroNews.com) - Politicians, business leaders and representatives of international organisations came together in the heart of Vienna, Austria, for the 27th annual Crans Montana Forum.

Attendees discussed a wide range of subjects from the role of women in decision-making to renewable energies – the main angle being the rise of central-eastern Europe as a new power – and the migration crisis.

One of the most memorable comments was that of Gregorios III, the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem, who had a – perhaps surprising – view on the reception of Syrian refugees in Europe.

“This is a double-edged sword. We are not happy when we hear ‘Syrians welcome,’ because we want them to stay with us at home, especially when we see all the problems they have to go through,” he explained.

“But I think Germany, especially Germany, and Sweden really invited too many people. They should have been more circumspect at the beginning. My own relatives lived in very good security conditions, under my protection, and even they found an excuse to leave!”

Most attendees agreed that peace in Syria should be the long-term solution….

This thoughtful and perceptive biographic sketch, by Eastern Churches’ expert, Konrad Lübeck (first written in German nearly a century ago) of Patriarch Maximos III Mazlum, famed as “liberator” of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the nineteenth century, appears in a new English translation by T J Kingston, with a Foreword by Patriarch Gregorios III.  

204 pages. With colour and black-and-white illustrations of historical figures from the period. Paperback. Available from Eastern Christian Publications. Price: $20.00

http://ecpubs.com/product/patriarch-maximos-iii-mazlum/

“This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17: 21)

26 July 2016

On the threshold of this Marian month of August and as we are about to begin holding Paraklesis services, we summon the faithful of all our eparchies to prayer and fasting, in order to counter by prayer and fasting this wave of terrorism that is affecting one country after another around the world.

During this month of July, Germany was hit three times on successive days by this blind terrorism and today it was France, where Father Jacques Hamel was decapitated, just after celebrating Holy Mass. Then there were the dramas experienced by our dear Syria, especially over recent days in Aleppo and Qamishli, and by our dear Lebanon, with the tragedy that struck Qaa, not forgetting the assassination attempt upon our brother, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch, Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II.