Pope urges union of faith and charity in Middle East

Last updated on: June 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope urges union of faith and charity in Middle East 2013-06-21T19:00:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Jun 21, 2013 / 01:00 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Considering the plight of Christians in Syria and across the Middle East, Pope Francis advised aid agencies for Christians in the region to ground their work in prayer and the sacraments.

“I ask you to accompany me in uniting faith with charity … collaborate 'in the faith and in the charity of Jesus Christ our God,'” the Bishop of Rome said at a June 20 audience with the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches at the Vatican's Consistory Hall.

“Remembering,” he added, “that our work will be effective only if it is rooted in faith, nourished by prayer, especially by the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of faith and charity.”

The organization unites funding agencies from countries worldwide in order to provide services such as houses of worship and study, scholarships, and social and health care facilities to struggling areas.

The Roman pontiff told the aid workers that charity is “the first testimony” offered by Christians, “and it is only in this way that all of our actions will bear fruit.”

The good works done by ROACO “must be a profession of the love of God that constitutes the Christian identity,” he emphasized.

The pontiff also praised the perseverance of Eastern Catholics who have “faced every difficulty for the Christian name” and have “kept the faith.”

He then appealed to the leaders of nations and to all men and women of goodwill to “put an end to all suffering, to all violence, to all religious, cultural and social discrimination.”

“To all those who suffer I say forcefully: never lose hope!”

Mindful of the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East, Pope Francis said he was renewed in “the vivid ecclesial concern for so many brothers and sisters who live in a situation of insecurity and seemingly interminable violence which does not spare the innocent and most helpless.”

He then urged the committee to especially seek to help those suffering at the hands of violence in Syria, and asked them to remember Syria in their prayers.

“The beloved Syrian people . . . the ever increasing number of refugees and displaced persons,” he reflected.

The war in Syria has dragged on for 27 months, and claimed the lives of at least 93,000 people.

There are 1.5 million Syrian refugees in nearby countries, most of them in Jordan and Lebanon. An additional 4.25 million Syrian people are believed to have been internally displaced by the war.

The pope’s remarks were in keeping with the theme of the first day of the committee’s assembly, which was dedicated to the situation in Syria.

They were also reminiscent of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri’s comments at the Mass opening the meeting on June 18, in which the cardinal called to mind the suffering in Syria but also the witness of charity from Christians in the Middle East.

Cardinal Sandri serves as prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, as well as president of ROACO.

In addition to the grave situation in Syria, the conference also discussed the state of Christians in Egypt, Iraq and Palestine.

Vatican

Previous Post

June 21, 2013

Despite protests, archbishop assures safety at World Youth Day

Next Post

June 21, 2013 Choose bishops carefully, Pope advises diplomats

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I challenged 450 prophets to call down fire from heaven, and theirs failed while mine consumed everything. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Elijah Moses Elisha Samuel