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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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Damascus - The October meeting of the Synod of Bishops, which will be devoted to the Middle East, will be a "precious opportunity" to strengthen Christian identity in a troubled region, the Vatican announced after a meeting of the Synod's preparatory committee.
Preparations for the Middle East Synod-- which are moving forward at an accelerated pace at the request of Pope Benedict XVI-- have focused on the need to reinvigorate the Christian minority and promote cooperation among the many different Christian churches in the region. The Vatican communiqué on the preparatory committee's work emphasized "the urgent need for a convinced ecumenical commitment."
The October Synod meeting will discuss the mission of the faithful as "active witnesses of Christ in the context of a Muslim-majority society." The preparatory committee was forthright in acknowledging the difficulties of that mission, aggravated by "conflicts and instability which cause the exodus of people, including no small number of Christians."
The preparatory committee includes the heads of the Maronite, Coptic, Syrian, Melkite, Armenian, Chaldean, and Latin Catholic communities in the Middle East, as well as several Vatican officials including the prefects of the Congregation for Evangelization (Cardinal Ivan Dias) and the Congregation for Eastern Churches (Cardinal Leonardo Sandri).
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Rome - Pope Benedict XVI has sent a message of sympathy to the Christians of Mosul, and condemned the latest targeted bombing attack there. The Pope's message-- sent in a telegram to the Syrian Catholic Archbishop Basile Casmoussa of Mosul-- promised prayers for the victims of a bomb that destroyed a bus carrying Christian students to the University of Mosul. The death toll from the bombing has now risen to 4, with 171 people injured.
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VATICAN CITY, 24 APR 2010 (VIS) - In view of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, due to take place in the Vatican from 10 to 24 October on the theme "The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness. 'The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul'", the Holy Father appointed:
- His Beatitude Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon, as president delegate "ad honorem".
- His Beatitude Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Iraq, as president delegate "ad honorem".
- Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, as president delegate.
- His Beatitude Ignace Youssif III Younan, Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, Lebanon, as president delegate.
- His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, Egypt, as relator general.
- Archbishop Joseph Soueif of Cyprus of the Maronites, as special secretary.
SS/VIS 20100426 (170)
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Rome 23-24 April 2010
Report by Patriarch Gregorios III
of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
The work of preparation for the Synod for the Middle East has made progress in this third reunion of the members of the Presynodal Council, who are the seven Patriarchs of the Middle East, the President of the Episcopal Conference in Iran and the President of the Episcopal Conference in Turkey. The work was led by Archbishop Nikola Eterović, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, Rome.
The members studied in a plenary session and in three groups the vast amount of material made up of answers from eparchies, institutions and religious to the questions of the Lineamenta, sent to all Churches in January 2010.
The next step will be for the Office of the Synod of Bishops to produce a document about this recent meeting of the Presynodal Council to be sent in a few days' time to Council members, who are asked to reply with comments as soon as possible to the Synodal Office.
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"Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." (Acts 27:26)
16-18 April 2010
In the year 60 AD, the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on Malta. The Apostle to the Nations preached the Gospel to the Maltese, instilling a faith which the islanders have kept ever since. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI, nineteen hundred and fifty years after the arrival of Saint Paul, went to Malta to commemorate the event of the providential apostolic shipwreck.
His Beatitude, Patriarch Gregorios III was pleased to accept an invitation from the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem to visit Malta in coincidence with the papal visitation. Accompanying His Beatitude were Archbishop Joseph Absi, titular Bishop of Tarsus and Archimandrite Mtanios Haddad, Patriarchal Apocrisary in Rome and Rector of the Patriarchal Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. In doing so, His Beatitude was mindful of the many links between Damascus, place of the apostle's vision of the risen Lord and home of the Patriarchal See of Antioch, which celebrated the Year of Saint Paul in 2008-9, and the Maltese islands and Sicily, which Saint Paul also visited in the furtherance of his mission to the nations.
Friday 16 April1325 Arrival at Luqa airport to be welcomed by representatives of the Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands (Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem) and taken to the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana
1430 Meeting with directors of the Grand Priory
1615 Visit to the Co-Cathedral of Saint John of Valletta
1800 Concelebration with Archimandrite George Mifsud Montanaro, pastor of the Greek Catholic community in Malta, of the Divine Liturgy in the Greek Catholic Church of Our Lady of Damascus, (Theotokos Damaskinis) Valletta (For the homily preached on that occasion, see http://pgc-lb.org/english/News2_Malte_17-18april2010.html )The Patriarch presented a brochure about the church and the icon of Our Lady of Damascus in Syria.
2000 Reception and dinner at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, given by the Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands, of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem
Saturday 17 April
1030 Visit to the Archbishop of Malta, Paul Cremona O.P. at the former Major Seminary, Floriana
1045 Island tour organised by the Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands
1600 Visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa with the Mayor of the town, Mr. Cutajar
1730 By sea to Saint Paul's Island (Selmunett) where the Mayor invited His Beatitude to unveil a commemorative plaque on the occasion of his visit
1800 Visit to the Saint Paul's Shipwreck Church, Valletta, commemorating the harmless snake's emergence from the fire (Acts 28: 5)
2100 Reception given by the Grand Commandery of the Castello at Castle Lanzun, at Mensija, San Gwann
Sunday 18 April
0900 Departure from the Grand Hotel Excelsior for the Church of Saint Publius (Acts 28: 8), Floriana
1000 Holy Mass presided over by H. H. Pope Benedict XVI with Patriarch Gregorios III concelebrating at the altar, Floriana, Piazzale dei Granai.
1300 Lunch with Pope Benedict and Maltese bishops in the Nunciature
1430 Visit to the Wignacourt Museum and the Cave of Saint Paul, Rabat
1800 Viewing the sea-parade accompanying Pope Benedict's visit to the youth of Malta
1900 Leave-taking from hosts, Count Dr. the Chev. J. R. Pace and other members of the Order in Valletta
2000 Departure for Valletta Airport
2100 Departure for Catania, where His Beatitude was welcomed by Professor Corrado Monaca, President of Movimento Azzurro
2200 Transfer to Ispica for overnight stay at the Palazzo Gambuzza Hotel
19-21 April
Monday 19 April
1000 Meeting Bishop Antonio Staglianò of Noto
1200 Meeting the Mayor of Ispica, Piero Rustico
1315 Lunch with the Council of the Movimento Azzurro
1730 Attendance, as one of several expert speakers, at Movimento Azzurro's International Conference on "How to overcome arrested development in the Mediterranean region" at the Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation
2000 Lecture by H.B. Patriarch Gregorios III entitled, "Business and politics need persons open to sharing," with emphasis on the role of Christians in the dialogue of cultures and religions in the Middle East
2030 Supper
2130 Overnight stay in Ispica
Tuesday 20 April1000 Visit to Santa Maria alla Cava, with its Byzantine frescos and visit to the archaeological sites of the Parco Forza, between Syracuse and Ragusa with welcome by school children
1100 Blessing at Ispica of the Saint Paul Mediterranean Oasis, with unveiling of two marble plaques by the Mayor of Ispica and Professor Monaca, commemorating H.B. Patriarch Gregorios III's visit and the Movimento Azzurro
1800 Celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major with music and chants by the Coro Mater Dei
2030 Supper
2130 Overnight stay in Ispica
Wednesday 21 April1030 Meetings with Paolo Urso, Bishop of Ragusa in the Bishop's Palace and with the Provincial President, Giovanni Francesco Antoci in the Provincial Palace
1100 Meeting with the Prefect of Ragusa, Dr. Francesca Cannizzo and the provincial authorities, with speeches from Prefect and Patriarch and signing the Golden (distinguished visitors' ) Book
1300 Lunch at the Prefecture
1530 Visit to Ragusa/Ibla and to the shrine of Saint George
1900 Celebration of Vespers in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist presided over by Bishop Paolo Urso with a homily by His Beatitude
2045 Supper at Ibla with the Prefect, President and Bishop and His Beatitude's delegation (who were present at all the above-mentioned visits)
2200 Final overnight stay at Ispica at the Palazzo Gambuzza Hotel
Thursday, 22 April
0930 Departure for Catania
1200 Departure for Rome
1315 Arrival in Rome
Notes by Patriarch Gregorios III
Translation from the French and Italian V.C.
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Fairfax, Virginia. April 16, 2010. Three Orientale Lumen Conferences are planned in 2010 for lay persons and clergy from the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic and Oriental Orthodox Churches. One of the few ecumenical dialogue meetings that are open to the public, this year's conferences will focus presentations on "The Councils of the Church". Held annually since 1997, the Orientale Lumen conferences provide a "grass roots" form of ecumenical dialogue where all persons learn from each other's traditions. This year's conferences will be held in New Jersey, Washington, DC, and Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey. [ Brochure ]