Pope: the Middle East must become a land of peace

"War, daughter of power and misery, gives way to peace, daughter of law and justice.Our fellow Christians are also recognized as full citizens enjoying the same rights," added the pontiff.

The Pope recalled the meeting of July 7 in Bari, in southern Italy, between churches for peace in the Middle East, "an experience that, I hope, can be repeated" .

"The man is fully created in the image of God not when he is alone, but when he lives in the stable communion of love, for God is a communion d & # 39; love "said Francisco to the badistants.

He quotes in this regard the biblical pbadage in which it is written: "And God created man in his image, in the image of God he created him: man and woman he created them" (Genesis 1: 27). The Commission for Ecumenical Dialogue deals specifically with the subject of marriage.

"I am sure that his work, done in a climate of great harmony, will benefit the family of God's children, the Bride of Christ, whom we wish to present to the Lord" without spot or wrinkle ", without injury and without division, in the beauty of full communion "commented the pope.

Also as part of its ecumenical management, Jorge Bergoglio will visit the United Arab Emirates from February 3rd to 5th. "Faith unites and does not divide," said the pontiff in a video message to the people and authorities of the United Arab Emirates, including the Sheikh. Mohammed bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the great imam of Al-Azhar, doctor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, responsible for the ecumenical meeting that will take place in this Muslim nation.

During this trip, Francisco will participate in an interreligious meeting with the high Islamic religious authorities on the theme "Human fraternity".