Intervention of H. Exc. Barnaba EL SORYANY, Bishop of the Coptic-Orthodox Diocese of Saint George Roma (ITALY), Fraternal Delegate

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark Episcopate, entrusted me with the mission to attend the Synod as his representative, and to express his warm gratitude to His Holiness for extending an invitation to

CONFERENCE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AT THE CAMPIDOGLIO

A delegation of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops attended the conference entitled “Middle East. Christian witness for peace” which was held Tuesday, 19 October, 2010 in the Campidoglio. The meeting was sponsored by

DELEGATION OF SYNODAL FATHERS IN VISIT TO THE ITALIAN EMBASSY TO THE HOLY SEE

A delegation from the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops was received in the late morning of Monday, 18 October 2010 at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See. Ambassador Antonio Zanardi Landi welcomed to Palazzo Borromeo: the

Final session mulls Synod's propositions for Middle East

The synod of bishops for the Middle East held its last session Friday, with Pope Benedict XVI presiding over the final general congregation before Saturday's vote on the Synod’s draft propositions. Once agreed, the 41 points will be given to the

Apostolic Vicar of Gulf: let's listen to lay faithful!

Women religious and lay people this week addressed the assembly of Bishops gathered in the Vatican for the Synod for Middle Eastern Churches. Speaking at a Vatican press briefing Tuesday, the Apostolic Vicar in the Arabian Peninsula, Bishop Paul

Summing up the synod

Guided by the theme of "communion and dialogue" participants at the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East have been discussing over the past two weeks the situation of the Church and Christian communities in the region . But as the synod draws to a

The synod in Hebrew

For the first time ever, Vatican Radio is producing a webpage in Hebrew with up-to-date information about the ongoing Special Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. The work of Hana Bendcowsky - who is responsible for that webpage - is to make quite

Prayerful, Practical Support on Synod sidelines

Among the many events organised on the sidelines of the Synod on the Middle East this past week was a meeting of the so-called ‘Coordination of Bishops from Europe and North America in support of Catholics in the Holy Land’. Bishop William Kenny is

Gregory Nazianzus: born in Cappadocia

We present Saint Gregory Nazianzus , one of the four great Greek doctors of the Universal Church known as the theologian or the Divine , and the third of the Three Holy Hierarchs of the Byzantines .A programme written by Jill Bevilacqua and

Moving Beyond the Myths in Interfaith Relations

Attentive listening to the hopes and concerns of other Christians and people of other faiths in the Middle East is one of the most important features of the Synod of Bishops which is moving towards its conclusion on Sunday. Over these last few days,

Mainstream Media Struggles to Find Synod Story

The Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East is into its second week, with the synod fathers continuing their small group sessions. Chris Altieri spoke with the Rome correspondent for the UK’s Catholic Herald newspaper, Edward

Sustained in faith

With the spotlight at the ongoing synod of bishops for the Middle East focusing on the difficult situation facing the Church and the Christian communities in the region, how do Christians themselves live out their faith in their homeland and what

Synod Fathers Reflect on First Week of Deliberations, Look Forward to Second

The Post-Discussion Report summarizing the main issues discussed over the past week by bishops attending the Synod for the Churches of the Middle East was read out to the assembly Monday morning. The bishops continued their work in the afternoon, in

Roma Capitale is promoting two major international events for the Synod of Bishops

On 19 October on the occasion of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, Roma Capitale is promoting two major international events in collaboration with the Synod of Bishops, Vatican Radio, the Italian Ministry of Foreign

Iraqi Poetry Professor at Synod

Her surname Lewis is a give away in Iraq , making her visible as a Christian. She's Professor Anan Lewis and she teaches Victorian and modern poetry at the English Department of the University of Bagdhad. She's currently in Rome as one of the

“Historical Responsibilities”

The Anglican representative to the Middle East Synod, Bishop Michael Langrish, told the gathering on Friday the Church of England is committed to helping the UK government, society and media “to more fully understand and face up to the consequences

Synod: bishops warn of campaign to drive Christianity from Iraq

Ecumenical and interreligious dialogue were the focus Friday morning during the 8th General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. Pope Benedict XVI was present for the session which saw interventions from auditors and special

Basil the Great: Bishop of Caesarea

We bring you a sound portrait of Saint Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea and Confessor and Doctor of the Church. The grandson of a martyr he was named great during his lifetime for his various activities as Bishop , preacher and talent for

Muslim representatives address Synod

On Thursday afternoon two Muslim representatives addressed the Synod of Bishops outlining their vision of greater respect and understanding between Christianity and Islam in the Middle East. Sunni Professor Mohammad Al-Sammak from Lebanon and

Custodian

Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, is Custos, or Custodian, of the Holy Places in the Holy Land. His address, this week, to participants at the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops touched on the work the Franciscans

Synod: Middle East has a right to Hope

The Middle East has the right to hope: this is the unanimous voice of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. On Thursday morning the sixth general congregation was held in the presence of the Pope and touched on themes of equality of rights and

A welcome guest

One thing that has been made very clear ever since its presentation, is that the ongoing Special Assembly for the Middle East for the Synod of Bishops, is that Middle East, apart from Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories is also sixteen other

Don't Let Politics Undermine Catholic-Jewish Progress

Political tensions and conflict in the Middle East should not be allowed to undermine the extraordinary progress that has been made in relations between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people since the Second Vatican Council. That appeal was at

Synod: Holy Land must not become open-air museum

Work continued behind closed doors on the third day of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. Wednesday morning saw the first session of the smaller Working Groups. The general debate resumes in the afternoon, with the intervention of Rabbi David

Synod turns attention to Iraq

The Synod of Bishops for the Middle East drew attention to Iraq on Tuesday, demanding an end to the conflict.The Synod Fathers gave interventions in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI, and said dialogue is needed for peace and stability in Iraq.

Focus ▪ THE ROLE OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST Preparatory Document, cap. I, n. 24-25-28 (...) People need to remember that Christians are “indigenous citizens” and thereby are entitled to be a part to the fabric of society and identify themselves with their respective homelands. Their disappearance would impoverish the pluralism which has