JOHN PAUL II ASKS FOR AN END TO THE TRIALS OF IRAQI PEOPLE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 12, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father, in welcoming today the bishops of the Chaldean Church, gathered in Rome with Patriarch Raphael I Bidawid for their synod, told them "how many times over the years I have been near to the Iraqi people, the children, the elderly, the ill, families and all persons who have suffered in their body and soul."

"Numerous times," he continued, "I have had the opportunity to remind the international community of its duty so that new trials might be spared a people already sorely tried. Today I repeat even more forcefully: may everyone join together in putting an end to the trials of so many civilian victims!"

Pope John Paul, turning to their synod meeting, recalled that in his September 29, 1998 speech to Catholic Oriental patriarchs, he had said that "'the goal of all authentic synodality is harmony, so that the Trinity might be glorified in the Church'. ... The Acts of the Apostles teach us that it is neither absence of diverse opinions nor even the absence of conflicts which allows for harmony to be established, but indeed the ardent desire that the Church has to obey God's will for her."

He then quoted St. Ephraem of Nisibis who outlined the "traits which give spiritual beauty to a bishop. Orthodoxy of doctrine, science and the art of preaching, asceticism and chastity, modesty which forbids all jealousy, disdain for material goods, the search for mercy and gentleness with recourse to firmness when that is necessary, spiritual fatherhood, love for the holy mysteries." He added that "bishops must encourage and stimulate priests."

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