REPRESENTATIVES OF EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCHES MEET IN BOSTON

VATICAN CITY, NOV 8, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Holy Father to Cardinal Achille Silvestrini and, through him, to all those taking part in the meeting of bishops and religious superiors of the Eastern Catholic Churches in America and Oceania with the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. It began yesterday in Boston, U.S.A., and ends November 12.

Dated November 1, solemnity of All Saints, the Pope's Message to the prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, recalls that "the purpose of this meeting is to bring the different Eastern Churches together for reflection and common prayer in order that ... they may recognize the unique characteristics of their presence in America and Oceania and identify the path of commitment for the future." He notes that participants will especially examine the consequences of the massive diaspora on the life of the Oriental Churches in their traditional territories.

This is the fourth in a series of similar encounters held since 1996 to examine the life of the Catholic Oriental Churches in diverse parts of the world.

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