Synod Council Affirms Need for Interfaith Dialogue in Middle East

29 May Synod Council Affirms Need for Interfaith Dialogue in Middle East

This past 17 and 18 May, at the head office of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, the fourth meeting of the Special Council for the Middle East was held.

A statement issued today noted that “Secretary General Archbishop Nikola Eterovic presided over the work, which was attended by all members of the Council”. In his opening speech he particularly mentioned His Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai, O.M.M., who was recently elected Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, Lebanon.

The Council members stressed that “the coexistence of religions is essential for the development of mutual understanding and tolerance, to promote peaceful and fruitful relations in collaboration for the common good”.

There are also, reads the statement, “the increasingly demanding requirements of ecumenical and religious dialogue, which stimulate the search for communion and the witness on the part of the Lord’s disciples to live the faith in charity, with the hope for better times”.

“Special attention has been given to the drafting of a summary of the synodal documents, especially the propositions, in light of the wording of the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation that, as in other special Assemblies, will be published in due course by the Pope”.

(VIS)