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Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) - “In speaking of peace, our thought turns, in the first place, to the regions of the Middle East. For this reason I will take this occasion to announce the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East convoked by me and which will be held October 10-24, 2010, on the theme 'The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness: ‘The Multitude of Those Who Became Believers Were of One Heart and One Soul’ (Acts 4:32).'” These were the words of the Holy Father Benedict XVI in announcing the upcoming Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, during an encounter with the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops of the Eastern Churches, on September 19.
“We thank God for this informal gathering that will allow us to listen to the voices of the Churches that you serve with admirable self-sacrifice, and to reinforce the bonds of communion that link them with the Apostolic See.” The Holy Father recalled the first part of his “ideal pilgrimage to the heart of the Christian East,” April 24, 2005, at the Tomb of Saint Peter, at the beginning of his pontificate, a pilgrimage that today “knows another significant stage,” the Pontiff said, and “which it is my intention to pursue,” responding to the various petitions for “a more frequent contact with the Bishop of Rome” in order to make the communion of the Churches with the Successor of Peter more and more firm and to examine together, on occasion, possible issues of special importance.
“For my part, I feel that I have an important duty in promoting that synodality so dear to Eastern ecclesiology and noted with appreciation by the Second Vatican Council,” the Pope said. Citing the Conciliar Decree Orientalium Ecclesiarum, and the Apostolic Exhortation Orientale Lumen of John Paul II, the Holy Father renewed his hope that the Eastern Catholic Churches "flourish" to accomplish "with new apostolic vigor … the task entrusted to them … of promoting the unity of all Christians, especially Eastern Christians, in accordance with the principles of the decree, on ecumenism" ("Orientalium Ecclesiarum," No. 1). He then highlighted: “The ecumenical horizon is often connected with the interreligious one. In these two spheres the whole Church is in need of the experience of coexistence that has ripened in your Churches from the first Christian millennium.”
As a statement from the Holy See Press Office informs, the Holy Father Benedict XVI, considering the expressed interests in various circumstances of the Catholic Patriarchs and Major Archbishops, called them together for a meeting held on September 19, 2009 in the summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. Present with the Holy Father was Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, with several collaborators and “Leaders and Fathers” from all the Catholic Eastern Churches in communion with the Bishop of Rome. The Holy Father began the meeting with a prayer and welcomed the Prelates. Then, all the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops spoke, thanking His Holiness for the initiative and highlighting two aspects of the fidelity that distinguishes them: the tie with the patrimony of Eastern Christianity and their union with the Successor of Peter, Universal Pastor, with his charism of unity in truth and love. They also presented specific questions and several more general problems, such as the migration issue, with focus on the ecumenical and interreligious context in which their Churches live. At the close, the Holy Father made a synthesis of the interventions, offering fitting guidance and imparted his Apostolic Blessing on all the Catholic Eastern Churches. In preparation for the meeting with the Pope, on the afternoon of September 18, the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops held a meeting with the Cardinal Secretary of State, which was attended by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, with several Collaborators of the Congregation for Eastern Churches. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2009)
