By SIR
"A well-prepared job, since it covers all the answers from the clergy, the religious people and the bishops of the region. However, the text alone is not enough to ensure the synod’s work will be effective and concrete”. Optimism spiced up with a good dose of realism is expressed by mgr. Louis Sako, Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk, who, in an interview with SIR, comments the “Instrumentum laboris” of the Episcopal Synod for the Churches of the Middle East, published in Cyprus on June 6th by Benedict XVI. A call, that of the October 2010 Synod, which mgr. Sako himself asked for personally to the Pope during the visit ad limina of the Chaldean bishops in January 2009.
The risk feared by the archbishop of Kirkuk is that “the words of the ‘Instrumentum’ might be added to more words from the bishops”, if, during the synod, they do not have “the courage to speak up. The problems described in the document, such as emigration, religious freedom, peace, dialogue and ecumenism, must be faced bravely, in the attempt to find concrete measures to promote, first and foremost, our communion, which is weak. Every church – the Chaldean bishop states – works for itself”.
To make progress and have a future, the Churches of the Middle East must find “new ways to testify the Christian values. The Islamic world, at least the moderate one, expects something of us, in terms of a responsible presence. In our churches, and the ‘Istrumentum laboris’ acknowledges this, the missionary tension has faded. We have to rekindle it, but, to do this, we need to pursue communion and unity. Without them - mgr. Sako explains – there is no future for Christians in the Middle East. The Middle Eastern Church must be renewed and testify the evangelical values to the devotees of the other religions”. That’s why “we need a common pastoral care, in the Arabic language”. In the interview, mgr. Sako also touches on other issues, such as the liturgy, the emigration of Christians that may be curbed “by helping them rediscover their call and identity” and promoting “greater social commitment”. As to the future of the Churches of the Middle East, the archbishop is hopeful, even if “I must be realistic and say that if, even after this Synod, we do not resume our missionary path, then the Christian presence is endangered”.