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Pope Benedict XVI expressed his fears of an "extinction" of the presence of Christians in the Middle East, shortly before a prayer with almost all the patriarchs of churches present in this part of the world [19659002]. The region concentrates, particularly in recent years, a dense cloud of darkness: wars, violence and destruction, occupation and various forms of fundamentalism, forced migration and abandonment, all in the silence of so many people and the complicity of many. The Middle East has become a land of people leaving their own land, "lamented Francisco, facing the Bari Sea (southeastern Italy).
" And there is a risk that the presence of our brothers and sisters in the faith, disfiguring the face of the region, because a Middle East without a Christian would not be the Middle East. "
" The indifference kills, and we want to be a voice that fights the homicide of indifference "
" We want to give voice to those who do not have of voices, drowning in tears, because today the Middle East is crying, suffers and closes, while others trample in search of power and wealth "
Francis also emphasized the importance of a region where "unique ancient rites and priceless riches of sacred art and theology are preserved. This tradition is a treasure we must take care of all our strengths, because in the Middle East are the roots of our souls, "he shouted.
Pope, leader of 1.3 billion Catholics in the world ,
The Pope, with ten Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran leaders, will pray according to their own rites for peace in this region.
received the guests in the Basilica of St. Nicholas, who died in the fourth century and who is also venerated by the Orthodox and went to the crypt to pray in front of the relics of the saint who preached in Asia Minor.
A prayer is planned with the faithful
Among those present are the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, the Coptic Pope of Egypt, Theodore II, the vicar patriarch of Constantinople, Nektari the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow, the Archbishop e Hilarion, representing Kiril I and Metropolitan Basilio of Constancia and Ammochostos
The dignitaries will discuss behind closed doors dramatic situation in the Middle East, before releasing a symbolic group of white doves.
Francis has repeatedly expressed his fear of the possible disappearance of Christians from the "Middle East, cradle of Christianity".
According to a study by the International Christian Forum published late 2017, violence in this region and the radicalization of Islam are the main causes of the disappearance of Christians.
In the last 10 years, the number of Christians in the Middle East has dropped by 80%. In 1910, the number of these represented 13.6% of the population of this region and it is estimated that in 2025 it will be only 3%.
The summit of "Christian solidarity" represents the so-called "ecumenism of the blood", as Pope Francis calls it, and seeks to stop the violence and aggression against the thousands of Christians who lived in the area where Christianity was born and spread for two thousand years
* AFP
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