"I pray every day for a negotiated solution in the Middle East," Pope says. Francis said this in an audience with the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
“At this time we especially feel dismay and deep sadness at what is happening in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria. I think of all those living in the region, including our Christian brothers and sisters, and many minorities, who are experiencing the effects of a prolonged and painful conflict.” Pope Francis said this in his address to the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
“I join you in praying for a negotiated solution and in imploring God’s goodness and mercy upon all those affected by this immense tragedy. All Christians are called to work together, in mutual acceptance and trust, in order to serve the cause of peace and justice,” Francis went on to say.
The Pope paused to reflect on the issue of ecumenical dialogue. “The ways in which the Churches expressed their communion in the early centuries” and the sacraments, particularly baptism, are important focus points in the work of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Pope Francis revealed this in his audience with members of the commission whom he received in the Consistory Hall. “I express my hope,” Francis said, “that this work will bear rich fruit for our common theological research and help us to experience ever more fully our fraternal friendship.”
During the audience, the Pope also recalled “with deep appreciation … the inspiring commitment to dialogue shown by His Holiness Ignatius Zakka Iwas, Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East, who died this past year.”
The Oriental Orthodox Churches are those which only accepted the first three ecumenical Councils (Nicaea, Constantinople and Ephesus). There are six of them in total: the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt; the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, in Damascus; the Armenian Apostolic Church with headquarters in Etchmiadzine, Armenia – Catholicosate of Antelias, in Lebanon; the Ethiopian Orthodox Church; the Eritrean Orthodox Church and the Syro-Malankara Orthodox Church.
