CONGREGATION FOR THE EASTERN CHURCHES
circular letter on the occasion of the
Collection "Pro Terra Sancta"
April 22, 2011
Reverend: Remember
Collection of Good Friday means to refer to a commitment that goes back to apostolic times . Witness San Pablo, writing to the Christians of Galatia: we were asked to remember the poor, which I tried to meet a lot of application (2, 10). And he confirmed writing to the Corinthians (1 Cor 16, 2 Cor 8-9) and Rome: they had to make a contribution to benefit the poor among the saints in Jerusalem (15, 25-26).
The Holy Land trusts in the brotherhood of the universal Church and want to respond to it by communicating the experience of grace and grief that marks his path. Want to recognize, first of all, the grace of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East and the Papal Visit to Cyprus. These developments have increased interest in the world and the new influx of so many Pilgrims on the historic footprints of the Lord Jesus. But also feels the pain of increasing violence against Christians in the eastern regions, the consequences are expressed strongly in the Holy Land. Eastern Christians today experience of martyrdom and suffering from instability or the absence of peace. The most disturbing signal remains his unstoppable exodus. And indeed, some positive signs in certain situations, it is not painful enough to reverse the trend of Christian emigration, which impoverishes the entire area to be deprived of their most vital forces, consisting of the younger generation.
Therefore us to join the Holy Father to encourage Christians in Jerusalem, Israel and Palestine, Jordan and the surrounding eastern countries, in his words: Do we resign ourselves to the lack of peace. Peace is possible. Peace is urgent. Peace is the prerequisite for a life worthy of the human person and of society. Peace is also the best remedy to prevent emigration from the Middle East (Benedict XVI in his homily concluding the Synod of the Middle East - 24/10/2010).
This call to the Collection is part of the cause of peace, the brothers and sisters of the Holy Land wish to serve as effective tools in the hands of the Lord for the good of the whole East.
This call, which comes at the beginning of the Lenten journey to Easter, will find its climax on Good Friday, or on occasion considered more favorable to local circumstances. But in any case, the Appeal is still everywhere in the normal way and necessary to promote the life of Christians in that beloved land.
The Congregation for Eastern Churches gives voice to the pastoral needs, educational, and charitable care of their churches. Thanks to universal solidarity, these churches remain rooted in the sufferings and hopes of their respective people, growing in ecumenical and interreligious cooperation. Give glory to God and uphold the rights and duties of each person and community, beginning with the right to personal and public exercise of religious freedom. Will be put next to the poor, without distinction of any kind, contributing to social advancement of the Middle East. And above all, live the Beatitudes in forgiveness and reconciliation.
Pope Benedict invites us, however, go beyond even the gesture certainly worthy of praise, practical assistance. The relationship should become even more intense, until possession of a spirituality rooted in the Land of Jesus ": So the more we see the universality and uniqueness of the person of Christ, the more we look with gratitude that Land, where Jesus was born, lived and has given himself for us all. The stones on which he has walked our Redeemer are loaded with memory for us and still "shouting" the good news. (...) All Christians living in the land of Jesus, bearing witness to the faith in the risen (...) are called not only to serve as "a beacon of faith to the universal Church but also as a leaven of harmony , wisdom and balance in the life of a society that has traditionally been, and remains, pluralistic, multiethnic and multi-religious "(Post-Synodal Exhortation Verbum Domini, 89).
I thank the Holy Father on behalf of the pastors and faithful of the whole Church, with the firm confidence that once again confirm their generosity. This appreciation is a "thank you" sincerely expressing together the Latin Church, meeting in the Patriarchal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Franciscan Custody, and the Melkite Church, Maronite, Syria, Armenia and Chaldea, which together compose the Catholic Church in the Holy Land .
With the expression of fraternal good wishes in Christ Jesus.
Card. Leonardo Sandri
Prefect
✠ Cyril Vasil 'IF
Archbishop Secretary
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