Cardinal Leonardo Sandri is prefect of the Congregation
for Eastern Churches. at the first general congregation of the Special Assembly
for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, presided over by Benedict XVI, October 11 2010.
Holy Father,
We give thanks to God, together with Your Holiness, for the communion with the
Successor of Peter, which makes us feel like the Church of Christ, eternally
loved by him. Through his holy people, he loves humanity and wants to present
himself, as the Lord of history, even today. We render thanks for this
expression of episcopal collegiate fraternity for the benefit of the Church in
the Middle East.
With You, Holy Father, we trust in t he mercy of God and ask that His kingdom
of truth, love and justice arrive to the East and the West soon.
Nothing will separate us from the love of Christ (Rom 8:35): this is the
confirmation we receive these days, while we are always listening “to what
the Spirit is saying to the churches” (Rev 2:11) and to what Your Holiness
confided to the Christians of the Middle East.
Now, here in Rome, we carry the East in our hearts, the precious treasures of
its spiritual traditions: the glory and worth, as well as the trials of its
past; the suffering and expectations for the present and the future. A
“precious tie” unites all the eras of the Eastern Church: this is the
Christian martyr.
Even today this demonstrates a faithfulness to the Gospel, which has written
indelible pages of ecumenical brotherhood. While seeing some improvement in the
situation, in some contexts the Catholics along with other Christians still
endure hostility, perse cution and the lack of respect for the fundamental
right of religious freedom. Terrorism and other forms of violence do not even
spare our Jewish and Muslim brothers. Humanly shameful events multiply and
strike innocent victims. The loss of individuals and goods, and of reasonable
perspectives, generates the reality of emigration, which is sad and
unfortunately persists beyond some positive exceptions. Distress often
flourishes giving rise to the crucial question of whether there ever can be
days of peace and prosperity in the Middle East or if in the future the same
survival of the “plebs sancta Dei” is not at risk.
You, Holy Father, have never lost hope. Rather, you instill it in the Churches
of the East because they live the mystery evoked by the Prophet Ezekiel, the
“glory of Yahweh” which “arrived at the Temple by the east
gate” (Ez 43:4).
The East answers by persevering in communion and in witness; answering with the
firm wil l to offer and receive the hope of the Cross.
During the Synodal supper “sub umbra Petri” the sons and daughters of
the Eastern Churches wish to join with their pastors: they wish to be “one
heart and soul” (Acts 4:32) and make theirs the priestly prayer of Christ
“ut unum sint” (Jn 17:21). The East confirms its mission before Your
Holiness, the mission of cooperating in the unity of all Christians especially
the Eastern ones according to the mandate of the Ecumenical Vatican Council II
(cf. OE 24).
Today, October 11th, is the liturgical memorial to the blessed John XXIII. To
the beloved Pontiff, “sincere friend of the East,” we entrust the
prayer for the synodal work.
We see the same love in you, Holy Father. Therefore, I vouch for the
faithfulness and complete adhesion to Your Person and to Your Magisterium by
the faithful of the Middle East, while in the name of the Delegate Presidents,
the General Relator , the General and Special Secretaries and all the
participants I express our deepest gratitude to Your Holiness.
May the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God bear abundant fruit for
this providential initiative for the good of the Church in the hope of peace
for the Middle East and for the world.
Thank you, Holy Father.