7 July in Bari (Italy) hosted a meeting of Heads and representatives of the Oriental Churches on the situation of Christians in the middle East.
The meeting began at the entrance to the Basilica of St. Nicholas, where Pope Francis was welcomed Heads and members of delegations of the Eastern Churches. Then the Pope, Patriarchs, and representatives of the Churches proceeded to the crypt of the Basilica to venerate the relics of St. Nicholas. The event continued with a prayer for peace in the middle East, which took place on a specially constructed platform on the seaside promenade of Bari; in prayer was attended by thousands of residents and guests of the city, reports the Christian megaportal invictory.com with reference to krynica.info
As reported vaticannews.va, at the end of this conversation, Pope Francis said that night, “the Middle East in the throes of” peace can be achieved “a real willingness to listen and dialogue” and not “truces, equipped with walls” or “test force”.
According to him, there is no alternative to peace in the region. Expressing the wish that “the culture of the meeting, prevailed over the strategies, struggles,” Pope Francis strongly invited to turn “the cries of war in a peaceful singing”.
“It is important that those in positions of authority, finally devoted himself to this service for the good of the world, not their own interests. Quite benefit few at the expense of many others! Rather the seizure of territory that plagued the people. Rather the predominance of private truth over hope of the people! Pretty to use the middle East in order to earnings!” called Dad.
From “ulcer” of the war suffering in the first place, the poor people, he continued, Recalling “torn Syria.” According to Francis, “war is the daughter of power and poverty. It is conquered through the rejection of the logic of domination and the eradication of poverty”.
It is impossible to speak about the world, secretly continuing unrestrained arms race. This is a very big responsibility that rests with the conscience of Nations, especially the most powerful, warned the Holy Father.
“Let’s not forget the last century, will remember the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, will not allow the lands of the East to turn into a dark space of silence”, — said the Holy Father. Among the mandatory conditions are needed for this, he called the responsibility to protect the rights of religious minorities and to recognize the status quo of Jerusalem.
In the middle East hope has a baby face, expressed the belief the Pope.
“Eyes overly large number of children the greater part of his life saw the pile of wreckage instead of schools, heard a dull rumble of bombs instead of the funny noise during the games. Mankind, hear, — please, — the cry of the children, whose lips pronounce God’s joy. Dry their tears, the world will back their dignity”, — concluded his speech the Pope.
The meeting was attended by Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, Theodoros II, Patriarch of the Coptic Church Tawadros II, Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church Ignatius Ephrem II, Catholicos of Cilicia, Aram I (Armenian Apostolic Church), Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Gewargis II, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church Ibrahim, Patriarch of the Syro-Catholic Church Ignatius Youssef III, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East cardinal Bechara Boutros ar-Rai, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, cardinal Louis Raphael I, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church cardinal Krikor Bedros XX Anadolsky Archbishop Nektarios (the representative of the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilus III), Metropolitan of Constantia-Ammochostos Basil (representative of the Archbishop of New Justiniana and all Cyprus Chrysostomos II), Bishop of British and Irish Ovakim (the representative of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II), Archbishop of Aleppo Jean-Clement Anbar (representative of the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Youssef), Apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Bishop, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land Sani Ibrahim Azar, the Secretary-General of the middle East Council of Churches, Surya Busulani, the Chairman of the Department for external Church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.