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| Foto Patriarcato caldeo |
I am pleased to welcome every one of you and to thank you for being here to participate in this Synod, in spite of the challenges that our Church is currently facing and the overall complicated social, political and security circumstances, in a hope that this meeting will bring to live Psalm (133/ 1) “How pleasant it is, when brothers dwell together”, especially when our gathering is for the benefit of our Church and our people.
First of all, I thank God for giving me strength, wisdom, and determination that enabled me to go through the crisis of withdrawing Presidential decree (147) of 2013 as well as several malicious complaints. However, most of you may know that I, personally was not the target (as being told by some officials), but the purpose was rather to seize Church properties.
On this occasion, I feel speechless, cannot find the right word to thank you for your reliable stances aligning with the Episcopal Conference, and for your honorable interventions in this regard. I feel wordless as well in showing my gratefulness to all those who supported the Church by their prayers for revealing the truth and showing solidarity to strengthen the Church rather than dividing it. Even though, the Church is stronger now.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Prime Minister, Mr. Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, for his courageous initiative in restoring our Church’s right by issuing an “Administrative Order” confirming the designation of the Patriarch as the custodian of its endowments.
Dear Blessed Brothers,
We sense in your presence at this annual assembly a number of apostolic indicators, such as giving the priority to the well-being of our Church and our people above all other considerations, far from arguments and criticisms that float on the surface and do not match reality.
The Lord expects us, together with faithful, to think in a responsible way toward contributing in our Church and our country. Since, we are called to bear our ecclesiastical, humanitarian and national responsibilities in order to face major challenges in the society as well as the accelerated changes in our country and around the world.
Subsequently, we should be keen not to waste our time in “disagreements” that harm the reputation and the status of our Church, resulting in misrepresenting of our testimony. Nevertheless, our limited time is for nothing but to serve, give and love generously and in harmony. It is an hour of honesty and truth.
On one hand, the core of our call is to be open to what is happening in the Church and to follow the “progress” taking place and not to be “satisfied” with the information we acquired during our academic study, since our world is changing. It is different from the world where we were born, raised and educated, and will be gradually different for generations to come. The progress of the Church and the society is linked to modernism, and there is no progress without it.
It is normal for everyone to present his opinion and be open to accept that of the “majority”, by moving together towards the fullness of communion. This way. We will be able to rise above our personal desires with love, wisdom, and humility. Such team work in the Church advances when we do it and when we are united in listening to the call of the Holy Spirit within us.
Unity is strength when it stems from awareness and respect of the point of view of others and leads to the common good. This unity can be enhanced by listening and prayer, as long as it is based on truth to reflect our credibility, and consolidates people’s confidence in us and our testimony.
On the contrary, division is destructive, creates doubts among faithful and is not on favor of anyone. Problems may inevitably arise, but could be addressed through the Synod in a responsible and honest dialogue, instead of “boycotting”.
I would like to conclude with a paragraph quoted from Pope Francis’ speech on Thursday 27 June, 2024, when he met with the ROACO community: “I beg you, with heart in hand, to persevere in your support for the Eastern Catholic Churches, assisting them, in these dramatic times, to remain firmly rooted in the Gospel. Urge the clergy and religious to be ever attentive to the cries of the flock, exemplary in faith, putting the Gospel before all forms of dissension or self-interest, and united in service to the common good, since all those in the Church belong to Christ”.
We must return to the source of our vocation, direct our attention to Christ and to our mission in loving our Church and our people to the end, sacrificing ourselves as Jesus the Savior did (John 13/ 1).