Vatican
City, 20 June 2013
(VIS) – At 11:30 this morning in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican
Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received participants in
the 86th Plenary Assembly of the Reunion of Organisations for Aid to
the Oriental Churches (ROACO). This organisation, under the
sponsorship of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, is formed
from various organizations around the world including: the Catholic
Near East Welfare Association; Aid to the Church in Need; Renovabis;
and Oeuvre d'Orient, which financially and spiritually assist members
of the Church in the East.
Francis
gave thanks to God for the “fidelity to Christ, the Gospel, and the
Church that the Eastern Catholics have given proof of throughout the
centuries, facing every struggle for the Christian name and 'keeping
the faith'. … Like my predecessors, I wish to encourage and support
you in your exercise of charity, which is the only reason for Jesus'
disciples to brag. This charity springs from God's love in Christ.
The Cross is its vertex, the luminous sign of God's mercy and love
for all, which has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. …
I ask you to accompany me in the task of uniting faith and charity,
which is inherent to the Petrine ministry.”
The
Pope encouraged the members of ROACO to continue their labour of
carrying out projects that give priority to formation, above all of
the youth, without forgetting that such projects “should be a sign
of God's profession of love that constitutes the Christian identity.”
“The
presence of the patriarchs of Alexandria of the Copts and of Babylon
of the Chaldeans as well as of the papal representatives in the Holy
Land and in Syria, the auxiliary bishop of the Patriarch of
Jerusalem, and the Custos of the Holy Land carries me to the holy
places of our Redemption but also revives in me a deep ecclesial
concern for the plight of our many brothers and sisters who are
living a seemingly endless situation of insecurity and violence,
which doesn't spare the innocent or the weakest.”
“We
believers are asked to constantly and confidently pray that the Lord
may grant the longed-for peace, together with a concrete solidarity
and sharing. I would like to once again, from the bottom of my heart,
appeal to the leaders of nations and international organisations, to
believers of every religion, and to all men and women of good will to
put an end to all the pain, all the violence, and all religious,
cultural, and social discrimination. May the conflict that sows death
leave space for the encounter and the reconciliation that bring
life.”
“To
all those who are suffering I strongly say: 'Never lose hope! The
Church is with you, accompanies you, and supports you!' I ask you to
do everything possible to alleviate the serious needs of the affected
populations, especially in Syria, the people of beloved Syria, and
the ever more numerous refugees and displaced persons. ... I repeat
to you: remember in your prayers the Church of Syria … Jesus Christ
will watch over it and your charity. I entrust the countless victims
to the Lord of Life and implore the Most Holy Mother of God to
console all of those in the 'time of great distress'. It is true;
what's happening in Syria is a great distress!”
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