Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

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Published on Friday, 20 July 2018
Patriarch Sako: "The meeting in Bari will not be an isolated event"

By Gianni Valente/ lastampa.it :

The primate of the Chaldean Church rereads the day of prayer and reflection with Pope Francis and the heads of the Churches present in the Middle East, and reveals: “There was also talk of unifying the date for the Easter celebration”.

On the day of reflection and prayer on the Middle East, convoked last 7 July in Bari by Pope Francis, the leaders and representatives of Christian Churches and Communities present in the Middle East set aside recriminations, ambitions of pre-eminence and victimization. The attention was not focused only on the sufferings of Christians, because it is clear to everyone that the destiny of Middle Eastern Christians “is linked to that of their fellow road-companions who are not Christians”. And in the dialogue behind closed doors the urgency of unifying the date on which the different Churches celebrate Easter was proposed “with greater strength” as a sign and concrete step towards full communion among all Christians scattered throughout that region of the world. This was reported to Vatican Insider by the Patriarch of Babylon and Head of the Chaldeans, Louis Raphael Sako, created cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory last 28 June. The Bishop of Rome has also appointed the Patriarch and neo- Chaldean Cardinal among the presidents delegates of the next Synod, dedicated to young people, to be held in the Vatican from 3 to 28 October 2018 on the theme “Young people, the faith and vocational discernment”. The exodus of Christians from the Middle East concerns mainly the younger generations, those most involved in the migratory processes that are reducing the numerical presence of many Middle Eastern Christian communities”.

A few days after, what images do you have of the meeting in Bari?

“I am reminded of that of a Last Supper, in which the brothers of the one Church of Christ found themselves praying together. And then, as I said, the bus that took us along the way from the Basilica of St. Nicholas to the seafront reminded me of the St. Peter’s boat. There was not only the Bishop of Rome, but also the Patriarchs who bear the title of Antioch, which was also a Church led by the Apostle Peter. The bus was open, wide open to the world, not locked in itself. And it was not still, static, but on the way. Just like the Boat of Peter. Along the way, the people jammed on the sides of the road as we passed by were shouting to us, “Unity! Unity!”.

What about the confidential talks? What struck you?

“We have not spoken of doctrinal matters. It was as if it was now accepted that we share the same faith. It was evident that unity can grow by walking together, praying together and facing problems together, knowing that we can draw on a common source. Dealing with common emergencies together can also help to grow in unity, towards full communion”.

What was the content of the speeches? Have you talked about practical proposals for showing signs of unity?

“Sometimes in the meetings of the ecclesiastics there are some “court-life mechanisms”: one begins to talk about one’s own privileges and one’s own small juridical-ecclesiastical preminences while perhaps, outside the meeting room, people are suffering, families and the poor are struggling to survive. That was not the case this time. No one has spoken in a self-pitying tone. Nor did we talk only about the suffering of Christians. It was clear to everyone that the destiny of Christians is linked to that of their fellow road-companions who are not Christians. To Muslims, Jews and everyone else living in the Middle East. As a visible sign of our unity, the proposal to identify a common date for the celebration of Easter was raised with greater strength”.

You often repeat that political practice in Middle Eastern countries must be more decisively modelled on the principle of citizenship, in order to reduce discrimination on the basis of ethnic-religious factors. In concrete terms, what is the way? Do Christians have to put pressure on governments to apply that principle?

“The affirmation of the principle of citizenship cannot and must not be a need and a demand emphasized only by Christians. Let us not have Christian sectarianism on this issue. The principle of citizenship is something that concerns everyone and its application is a benefit to everyone. This is also repeated by many Muslims and their religious leaders. This was stated by the Imam of al Azhar. And a few days ago, also the Mufti of the Lebanese Republic”.

Will the meeting in Bari remain an isolated event?

“In Bari, shared words and prayer have prepared the ground for common actions. Each of us, returning home, has brought with him many possible ideas to develop. That is also why it was clear that this will not be an isolated event. Everyone agrees in the decision that there will be more meetings like this. It certainly takes another meeting. And then, I do wish that it will be possible to extend the meeting also to Muslims and Jews. It is my wish, but it also stems from the fact that we cannot tackle and solve all the problems on our own. We have to work together with everyone else”.

Where can we start in Iraq ?

“All the Churches present in Iraq were represented at the meeting in Bari. Now it will be easier to be united among us. We will be able to make the Council of Iraqi Churches more effective. I also see progress with Muslims. After the defeat of Daesh (the Islamic State, ed) sectarian violence has objectively decreased”.

Father Jacques Murad, who now lives in Iraq, said that Christians must also keep alive the expectation of Jesus’ coming which is present among Muslims.

“Muslims expect us to bear authentic Christian witness. And we are called to witness among Muslims that Christ is alive. At times we, with our lexicon and our specific liturgical languages, such as Syriac, Aramaic, Armenian, have not helped them to understand. Now, when they read our prayers in Arabic, they are amazed. It is not about doing proselytism among Muslims. But certainly, this also helps them to overcome unjustified prejudices, such as those of considering Christianity a polytheism”.

Can the path started in Bari also interest Muslims?

“Things mature when their time comes. Fifty years ago, a meeting like that in Bari would not have been possible. It may be that so many Christians from different Churches and communities gathered together can be seen as an example. And perhaps it could also help Shiites and Samnites to overcome conflicts and contrasts between them”.