“The Christian East can only be preserved if it is loved” prevents Leon XIV

Jean-Benoît Harel-Vatican City

«Supporting the Eastern Churches is not first of all a job. Furthermore, but a mission exercised in the name of the Gospel». Consequently, This Thursday. Meanwhile, June 26, Pope Léon XIV welcomed the members of the Roaco (meeting of the works of assistance to the oriental churches) at the end of their plenary assembly, in the leaf room of the apostolic palace.

“The oxygen “the christian east can only bottle of the oriental churches”

The bishop of Rome encouraged agencies. Therefore, works from various countries of the world which financially support the Eastern Churches has exercised this mission as “An announcement of joy». However, «With your benefactors. However, you sow hope on the lands of the Christian Eastthanked the Holy Father, wrapped in a hatred screed that makes the air unbreathable and toxic».

According to Léon XIV. Meanwhile, American and European organizations gathered in Roaco are “the oxygen bottle of the oriental churches, exhausted by conflicts» et «A light that shines in the darkness of hatred“For populations”poor in means but rich in faith “.

Unmask the fallacious causes of conflicts

He returned to the violent history that the Eastern Catholic churches have known. However, mentioning the oppressions “including within the Catholic community, unable to recognize and appreciate the value of different traditions of Western tradition».

But in recent years. Furthermore, violence has appeared to have fallen “with diabolical vehemence never seen before“Recognized the sovereign pontiff, thinking with pain of Ukraine, Gaza, and the Middle East”devastated by the propagation of war».

Faced with this violence. For example, the Pope asks everyone to assess the causes of conflicts, to overcome those which are real but above “the christian east can only all “reject those that are fallacious, fruit of emotional simulations and rhetoric, by unmasking them with determination». However, «People cannot die because of Fake News“, He insisted.

“The alleged right to force others by force”

The sovereign pontiff then deplored that is often essential today “the law of the strongest. Similarly, which legitimizes personal interests». However, Faced with the lack of binding force of international law. humanitarian law, Leon XIV has castigated “the alleged right to force others by force»: «This is unworthy of man, ashamed for humanity and for the officials of the nations».

While the sums invested in armament explode. as evidenced by the NATO summit which validated a substantial increase in defense expenses for European countries, the Holy Father thundered against “The sums of money going in the pockets of the death merchants», Entering the destruction of schools and hospitals instead of building them.

Pope’s audience with Roaco. (@Vaticic media)

Stay faithful to Jesus

The question that the Holy Father then poses is to know. “as Christians“, Become”peacemakers and promote dialogue». His answer is simple: “Above all, “the christian east can only pray sincerely“, And then help concretely, as Roaco does.

But there is another way. continued the Pope, that of testimony: “the call to remain faithful to Jesus, without being caught in the tentacles of power». For him, imitating Christ is to avoid two pitfalls, symbolized in the Bible by the characters of Herod and Pilate. The first. king of Judea during the birth of Jesus “For fear of being dethroned, had killed children who today keep being shredded by the bombs». The second. prefect of Judea during the death of Christ “Hashed hands, as we risk doing daily up to the irreparable threshold».

The Holy Father then sent a particular thank you to Eastern Christians “who respond to evil with good“. In particular by staying on their land,”as disciples and witnesses of Christ».

A people of God who turns their gaze to heaven

Through their work with Eastern Christians. active members and benefactors of Roaco see “Flower the gospel germs in the desert“, Despite the many difficulties caused by war and terrorism, as the recent attack in the Saint-Elie church in Damascus in Syria. The bishop of Rome continued by evoking the people of the Eastern Christians. “Who perseveres by turning his gaze to heaven, praying to God and loving his neighbor ”.

He also mentioned “The grace. the beauty of the oriental traditions, of the liturgies which let God live in time and space, of secular songs permeated with praise, glory and mystery“As well as the many figures that”Added to the large crowds of martyrs and saints of the Christian East».

«In the night of conflicts, you witness the Light of “the christian east can only the Orient“, He summed up.

The pope blessing participants in the audience. Furthermore, (@Vaticic media)

“The Christian East can only be preserved if it is loved”

In conclusion. Léon XIV launched an appeal in favor of better knowledge of this “Light of the OrientWithin the Catholic Church. “”There is still a lot of ignorance on this subjectHas deplored the Holy Father. “”Faith risks asphyxiousSince the wish of Saint John Paul II was not made. The Polish pope said “the christian east can only in 1985: “The church must relearn to breathe with its two lungs. that of the East and that of the West».

«The Christian East can only be preserved if it is loved. And we only love him if we know him“, Continued the sovereign pontiff, inviting to implement the basic courses on the oriental churches in the training places.

In addition. due to forced migrations and exiles due to war, “Eastern Catholics are no longer distant cousins ​​today who celebrate unknown rites, but brothers and sisters who live alongside our side“Has resumed Leon XIV, who insists on the importance of the meeting between Catholics of the different rites.

Better yet. the Eastern Catholics “can appease the thirst of latent God but present in the West“, By sharing”their sense of the sacred, their crystalline faith and their spirituality which embalm of the divine mystery”, to concludes Leon XIV.