Source: SIR
“Peace in the Middle East” and Iraqi Christians are in the Pope’s heart and prayers every day. Pope Benedict XVI revealed it himself as he received this morning in audience the new Patriarch of the Syrian-Catholic Church of Antioch, His Beatitude Ignace Youssef III Younan, on his first official visit, accompanied by distinguished Patriarchs, Bishops and the faithful coming from the Middle East and from all over the world.
“I pray for peace in the Middle East, especially for those Christians who live in Iraq, a beloved country, whose suffering I offer every day to the Lord in the Eucharistic sacrifice”, said the Pope. The Patriarch was enthroned on February 15, after being appointed by the Synod of the Church in January. Last Thursday an official ceremony was held at the Basilica of St Mary Major, in the presence of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches card. Leonardo Sandri, during which the new Patriarch received the ecclesial communion from the Pope as stated in the sacred canons. “In your millennium-old history, communion with the bishop of Rome has always gone hand in hand with your faithfulness to the spiritual tradition of the Christian East”, said the Pope. Three are the “top priorities” set by Benedict XVI: to promote “unity, understanding and forgiveness”.
