Today in the Library of the Secretariat of State at the Vatican, a meeting between the Apostolic Nuncios from various countries in the Middle East and the Superiors of the Roman Curia began. The meetings will continue until Saturday (October 4). The Holy Father, Pope Francis was present this morning for the opening of the meetings.
In the early hours of this afternoon, the Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ shared the following details with members of the Press:
Considering the grave situation created in the last few months in the Middle East, the Pontifical Representatives from the affected region were summoned to the Vatican for a meeting which will take place from October 2 to 4 of this year. This meeting, which is taking place in the offices of the Secretariat of State, has as its principal theme: The presence of Christians in the Middle East. This meeting also involves the participation of the Superiors of the Secretariat of State and of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia who are directly interested in the question at hand, as well as the Holy See's Permanent Observers at the United Nations in New York and in Geneva as well as the Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union.
This meeting is an expression of the closeness and the solicitude which the Holy Father has for this important question. He himself wanted to introduce the work of this gathering, thanking the convoked participants for their prayers and reflecting together with them on what can be done to respond to the dramatic situation which Christians in the Middle East are facing as well as the struggles being faced by other religious and ethnic minorities who are suffering because of the violence that is raging in the region. With words which were listened to closely, the Holy Father has demonstrated his preoccupation for the situations of war which are being experienced in many places and for the phenomenon of terrorism, for which the life of individual persons does not have any value. He mentioned the problem of the trafficking of arms which at its root is so much a problem, as well as the humanitarian drama which many people are experiencing as they are forced to leave their homelands. Reiterating the importance of prayer, the Holy Father expressed his hope that we might identify initiatives and actions at multiple levels, aimed at demonstrating the solidarity of the entire Church with Christians in the Middle East and involving also the international community and all people of good will in order to respond to the needs of numerous people who are suffering in the region.
The Eminent Secretary of State presented an overview of the meeting, concentrating on its significance and its scope. The Eminent Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches presented a comprehensive account of the situation facing Christians in the Middle East, addressing various aspects of the question and opening an interesting moment for dialogue among the participants.
Then, the Pontifical Representatives from Syria and Iraq presented briefings about the situation facing Christians in their respective countries, while the Eminent President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum gave a speech on the role of the Church in the face of the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. Finally, another moment of dialogue concluded the work for this morning.
This afternoon, there will be an account presented by the Eminent President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue on the prospective of religious dialogue with Islam and the challenges faced by Christians in the Middle East. Cardinal Fernando Filoni will then present a report on his recent visit to Iraq as the Personal envoy of the Holy Father.
Following another moment for dialogue, today's session will conclude with the celebration of Vespers.
In the early hours of this afternoon, the Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ shared the following details with members of the Press:
Report of the Director of the Holy See Press Centre
Father Federico Lombardi, SJ
concerning the first day of meetings between the
Apostolic Nuncios from the Middle East and
Superiors of the Roman Curia
Considering the grave situation created in the last few months in the Middle East, the Pontifical Representatives from the affected region were summoned to the Vatican for a meeting which will take place from October 2 to 4 of this year. This meeting, which is taking place in the offices of the Secretariat of State, has as its principal theme: The presence of Christians in the Middle East. This meeting also involves the participation of the Superiors of the Secretariat of State and of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia who are directly interested in the question at hand, as well as the Holy See's Permanent Observers at the United Nations in New York and in Geneva as well as the Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union.
This meeting is an expression of the closeness and the solicitude which the Holy Father has for this important question. He himself wanted to introduce the work of this gathering, thanking the convoked participants for their prayers and reflecting together with them on what can be done to respond to the dramatic situation which Christians in the Middle East are facing as well as the struggles being faced by other religious and ethnic minorities who are suffering because of the violence that is raging in the region. With words which were listened to closely, the Holy Father has demonstrated his preoccupation for the situations of war which are being experienced in many places and for the phenomenon of terrorism, for which the life of individual persons does not have any value. He mentioned the problem of the trafficking of arms which at its root is so much a problem, as well as the humanitarian drama which many people are experiencing as they are forced to leave their homelands. Reiterating the importance of prayer, the Holy Father expressed his hope that we might identify initiatives and actions at multiple levels, aimed at demonstrating the solidarity of the entire Church with Christians in the Middle East and involving also the international community and all people of good will in order to respond to the needs of numerous people who are suffering in the region.
The Eminent Secretary of State presented an overview of the meeting, concentrating on its significance and its scope. The Eminent Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches presented a comprehensive account of the situation facing Christians in the Middle East, addressing various aspects of the question and opening an interesting moment for dialogue among the participants.
Then, the Pontifical Representatives from Syria and Iraq presented briefings about the situation facing Christians in their respective countries, while the Eminent President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum gave a speech on the role of the Church in the face of the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. Finally, another moment of dialogue concluded the work for this morning.
This afternoon, there will be an account presented by the Eminent President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue on the prospective of religious dialogue with Islam and the challenges faced by Christians in the Middle East. Cardinal Fernando Filoni will then present a report on his recent visit to Iraq as the Personal envoy of the Holy Father.
Following another moment for dialogue, today's session will conclude with the celebration of Vespers.
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