"Peace is possible. Peace is urgent. Peace is the precondition for a life worthy of human beings and society. "
Even in the Middle East. Benedict
XVI addressed this hope, a warning and invitation to the people, the
States and the international community at the conclusion of special
Assembly of the Synod which spoke a lot of peace, even with strong
words.
But peace, said the Pope in St Peter's Basilica this
morning concluding two weeks of work, is a gift from God, but also the
result of human action.
Hence Benedict XVI has called all
to a series of commitments: communion between Catholics, other
Christians and dialogue with Muslims, respect for religious freedom and
renewed evangelization in the land where Jesus lived and died.
The
theme of announcing the Gospel, is one that is particularly felt by
Benedict XVI who, marking World Mission Sunday, announced that it will
be the focus of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled
for 2012.
The bishops from around the world will devote
themselves to "to Nova evangelizatio christianam fidem tradendam - The
new evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith."
During the Angelus the Pope pointed out the
"similarity between the themes of these two ecclesial events” the Synod
and Mission Sunday, to an estimated 80 thousand people in St Peter’s
Square. "Both of them - he said – are an invitation to look
to the Church as a mystery of communion which, by its nature, is
intended for all man and all men."
The Basilica was packed with faithful and full of color,
this morning with 246 celebrants for the conclusion of the special
Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: "The
Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and testimony:" The
multitude of those who had become believers were of one heart and one soul". (Acts 4:32).
The Pope’s began by evoking the prayer for communion among the different churches who live in the region. "A challenge" stated Benedict XVI. “A
fuller communion within the Catholic Church favors ecumenical dialogue
with other Churches and ecclesial communities as well. The Catholic
Church reiterated in this Synodal meeting its deep conviction to
pursuing such dialogue as well, so that the prayer of the Lord Jesus
might be completely fulfilled: “May they all be one”(Jn 17:21). "
The words of the Lord Jesus - continues the pope - may
be applied to Christians in the Middle East: “There is no need to be
afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the
kingdom” (Lk 12:32). Indeed, even if they are few, they are bearers of
the Good News of the love of God for man, love which revealed itself in
the Holy Land in the person of Jesus Christ. This Word of salvation,
strengthened with the grace of the Sacraments, resounds with particular
potency in the places in which, by Divine Providence, it was written,
and it is the only Word which is able to break that vicious circle of
vengeance, hate, and violence. From a purified heart, in peace with God
and neighbor, may intentions and initiatives for peace at local,
national, and international levels be born. In these actions, to whose
accomplishment the whole international community is called, Christians
as full-fledged citizens can and must do their part with the spirit of
the Beatitudes, becoming builders of peace and apostles of
reconciliation to the benefit of all society.
"Conflicts, wars, violence and terrorism have gone on for too long in the Middle East - says Benedict XVI -
Peace, which is a gift of God, is also the result of the efforts of men
of goodwill, of the national and international institutions, in
particular of the states most involved in the search for a solution to
conflicts. We must never resign ourselves to the absence of peace. Peace
is possible. Peace is urgent. Peace is the indispensable condition for a
life of dignity for human beings and society. Peace is also the best
remedy to avoid emigration from the Middle East.
“Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem” we are told in the Psalm (122:6). We pray for peace in the
Holy Land. We pray for peace in the Middle East, undertaking to try to
ensure that this gift of God to men of goodwill should spread through
the whole world.
"Another contribution that Christians
can bring to society is the promotion of an authentic freedom of
religion and conscience, one of the fundamental human rights that each
state should always respect. In numerous countries of the Middle East
there exists freedom of belief, while the space given to the freedom to
practice religion is often quite limited. Increasing this space of
freedom becomes essential to guarantee to all the members of the various
religious communities the true freedom to live and profess their faith.
This topic could become the subject of dialogue between Christians and
Muslims, a dialogue whose urgency and usefulness was reiterated by the
Synodal Fathers”.
“During the work of the Synod what was often underlined was the
need to offer the Gospel anew to people who do not know it very well or
who have even moved away from the Church. What was often evoked was
the need for a new evangelization for the Middle East as well. This was
quite a widespread theme, especially in the countries where Christianity
has ancient roots. The recent creation of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting the New Evangelization also responds to this profound need.
For this reason, after having consulted the episcopacy of the whole
world and after having listened to the Ordinary Council of the General
Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, I have decided to dedicate the next
Ordinary General Assembly, in 2012, to the following theme: “Nova
evangelizatio ad christianam fidem tradendam - The new evangelization
for the transmission of the Christian faith".
"The missionary task – he said during the Angelus – is
not to revolutionize the world, but transfigure it, drawing strength
from Jesus Christ who" brings us together at the table of His Word and
the Eucharist, to enjoy the gift of his presence, form ourselves in his
school and live more consciously united in Him, Lord and Master "
SIC: AN/INT'L