This morning at 9:00am local time in the Synod Hall at the Vatican, during the recitation of the liturgical hour of Mid-morning Prayer, the Holy Father held a Consistory for the naming of new Saints and in order to discuss the current situation in the Middle East.
During that meeting, Pope Francis decreed that Blessed Giuseppe Vaz, a priest of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, founder of the Oratory of the Miraculous Holy Cross in Goa and an apostle from Celon (Sri Lanka) and Canara (India) will be canonized on January 14, 2015.
A second case for canonization: that of Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception (born Adelaide Brando), founder of the Congregation of Sisters Expiatory Victims of the Blessed Sacrament, was also entertained, but a date for her canonization was not determined at that time.
Introducing the work of the Consistory concerning the current situation in the Middle East, before listening to the report of the Cardinal Secretary of State, and other interventions presented by Cardinals and Patriarchs, the Pope shared a few words with those who were present.
Your Eminences, dear Patriarchs and brothers in the Episcopate,
Following the closure of the third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the family, I want to dedicate this Consistory, in addition to some causes for canonization, to another question which is very close to my heart, namely the Middle East, and in particular the situation facing the Christians of that region. I am grateful for your presence.
We share the desire for peace and stability in the Middle East and the willingness to work toward the resolution of the conflict through dialogue, reconciliation and political commitment. At the same time, we want to provide the most help possible to the Christian community in order to support their permanence in the region.
As I have had occasion to repeat on several occasions, we cannot be resigned to thinking of the Middle East without Christians, who for two thousand years have confessed the name of Jesus. The latest events, above all in Iraq and in Syria, are very worrying. We are witnessing a phenomenon of terrorism of previously unimaginable dimensions. Many of our brothers are being persecuted and have had to leave their homes, sometimes in brutal fashion. It seems that they have lost any awareness of the value of human life, it seems that the human person no longer is of value, and can be sacrificed for the sake of other interests. And all this, unfortunately, seems to be met by indifference on the part of many.
This unjust situation requires, in addition to our constant prayer, an adequate response on the part of the International community. I am sure that, with the help of the Lord, our meeting today will bear fruit, including thoughtful reflection and suggestions which will be of assistance to our brothers who are suffering and in response to the drama of the decline in the Christian presence in the land where it was born and from where Christianity spread.
During that meeting, Pope Francis decreed that Blessed Giuseppe Vaz, a priest of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, founder of the Oratory of the Miraculous Holy Cross in Goa and an apostle from Celon (Sri Lanka) and Canara (India) will be canonized on January 14, 2015.
A second case for canonization: that of Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception (born Adelaide Brando), founder of the Congregation of Sisters Expiatory Victims of the Blessed Sacrament, was also entertained, but a date for her canonization was not determined at that time.
Introducing the work of the Consistory concerning the current situation in the Middle East, before listening to the report of the Cardinal Secretary of State, and other interventions presented by Cardinals and Patriarchs, the Pope shared a few words with those who were present.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the Consistory to discuss the current situation in the Middle East
Your Eminences, dear Patriarchs and brothers in the Episcopate,
Following the closure of the third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the family, I want to dedicate this Consistory, in addition to some causes for canonization, to another question which is very close to my heart, namely the Middle East, and in particular the situation facing the Christians of that region. I am grateful for your presence.
We share the desire for peace and stability in the Middle East and the willingness to work toward the resolution of the conflict through dialogue, reconciliation and political commitment. At the same time, we want to provide the most help possible to the Christian community in order to support their permanence in the region.
As I have had occasion to repeat on several occasions, we cannot be resigned to thinking of the Middle East without Christians, who for two thousand years have confessed the name of Jesus. The latest events, above all in Iraq and in Syria, are very worrying. We are witnessing a phenomenon of terrorism of previously unimaginable dimensions. Many of our brothers are being persecuted and have had to leave their homes, sometimes in brutal fashion. It seems that they have lost any awareness of the value of human life, it seems that the human person no longer is of value, and can be sacrificed for the sake of other interests. And all this, unfortunately, seems to be met by indifference on the part of many.
This unjust situation requires, in addition to our constant prayer, an adequate response on the part of the International community. I am sure that, with the help of the Lord, our meeting today will bear fruit, including thoughtful reflection and suggestions which will be of assistance to our brothers who are suffering and in response to the drama of the decline in the Christian presence in the land where it was born and from where Christianity spread.
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