Source: SIR
“It will be a powerful time; important is the choice of focussing the Synod on the testimony. The Oriental Churches must be aware of their mission and have the concern and care of the future of the Gospel in this land”. These are the words, in an interview with SIR of mgr. Louis Sako, Chaldean bishop of Kirkuk, Iraq, as he defines what promises to be one of the most long-awaited ecclesial events of 2010, i.e. the Special Assembly of the Episcopal Synod for the Middle East, due to take place from 10th to 24th October. It was precisely mgr. Sako, who, in January 2009, during the Iraqi Bishops’ visit ad limina, asked Benedict XVI to convene the Synod.
Speaking of the Synod’s theme that will be focussed in particular on communion and testimony, the archbishop warned about the risk of the Churches of the Middle East “losing sight of the evangelical announcement and confining the Christian presence to the liturgical sphere. Every Church has instead the mission to testify; otherwise it wouldn’t be a church”. As to communion, mgr. Sako does not mince his words: “the division of Christians is an outrage. Even Muslims ask us why we are divided”. The prelate thinks that “a common pastoral, unified in the Arabic language, is needed. Ours are small Churches that must cooperate if they want to survive; without cooperation, there is no future.” The same applies to inter-religious dialogue, which is also essential. “Without dialogue with Islam, we have no future – concludes mgr. Sako –, and the same applies to Hebraism. The Middle Eastern Churches too can promote a fair solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem. It is important for Eastern Christians to stay in this region, they belong to the great heritage of the universal Church, their fleeing abroad is a remarkable loss for all the Church”.
