Pope meets Arab bishops: Ignite the flame of hope – Vatican News

The bishops of the Arab Latin Bishops’ Conference met with Pope Francis, who said that in the face of the conflict in the Middle East, which “seems to be a constant situation”, the presence of Christians is an invitation to dialogue and reconciliation.

(Vatican News)Pope Francis received the bishops of the Latin Arab Bishops’ Conference (Celra) on the morning of August 28, before the general audience. The bishops were in plenary assembly and came to see the pope under the leadership of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. The pope thanked them for being “a spark of hope where hope seems to have gone out”.

In his message, the Pope mentioned that the Middle East “is at a moment of great tension, which in some cases leads to open conflict and blitzkrieg”. In response to the terrorist attack launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023, “instead of finding a just solution, it seems to be a continuation of the situation, with the great risk of spreading to the entire region”. The Pope stressed that after the Israeli army responded and occupied the Gaza Strip, the war “caused the death of thousands of people, a great deal of destruction and suffering, contributed to the spread of revenge and resentment, and laid the groundwork for new tragedies”.

The Church’s presence nourishes words and deeds of peace

The Pope expressed his closeness to these bishops and to the Churches they represent, praying that the Lord “will always grant them the strength to bear witness to their trust in him, including through mutual respect and frank dialogue with everyone.”

“May you ignite the flame of hope! You yourselves are a sign of hope for everyone, and your presence nourishes the words and deeds of peace, friendship and respect. This presence itself is an invitation to reason, reconciliation, to overcome with kindness Victory over division and hostility, which become harder and harder to resolve over time. Thank you for being the flame of hope where hope seems to be extinguished!”

Strengthening formation and explaining the reasons for Christian hope

Pope Francis wishes the bishops of the Latin Arab Bishops’ Conference good health in their pastoral work and to “find the best and most effective ways to ensure that pupils in public schools receive a proper Christian formation in contexts where Christians are a minority”.

“This formation is extremely important in order to make the content of the faith known and accompanied by reflection, so that it can grow strong in its exchange with culture and be able to give reasons for Christian hope.”

At the end of his speech, the Pope called on the Virgin Mary to “guard” them and give them “consolation”, and finally gave them his blessing.

Link URL:www.vaticannews.cn

Subscribe to our email newsletter: