Patriarchs of the Orient Come to Benedict XVI. "as Pilgrims"

(Vatican) The Patriarchs of the Orient are visiting Benedict XVI. At the end of February the emeritus pope received the patriarchs "like pilgrims under the rain" in the monastery Mater Ecclesiae. This was reported by the Chaldean Patriarch Raphael Louis Sako I. on the website of his archdiocese in Baghdad. "We had a friendly encounter. We asked him about his health and he inquired about the situation of Christians in the Middle East," said the Patriarch.

The patriarchs have come to Rome for the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for Eastern Churches from 19-22nd November. It was held at the Vatican under the theme: "The Eastern Catholic Churches 50 years after the Second Vatican Council". Among the participants were Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation, Cardinal Beshara al-Rai, Patriarch of the Maronite Church, Archbishop Louis Sako Raphael I. of Baghdad and Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Patriarch Gregorios III., Laham of Antioch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Ignatius Joseph III. Younan, Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church and Bedros XIX Nerse, the Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church. Alsso discussed was the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. The meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. took place on the afternoon of the 23rd of November at his chosen retreat, the monastery Mater Ecclesiae, which is located in the Vatican gardens. He is currently the only pope who has resigned from his office for reasons of age. The Chaldean Patriarch said to Benedict XVI. "Holiness, we are like pilgrims coming to you from under" and asked for a "special blessing and a special prayer for Iraq". Benedict XVI. replied: "I pray every day for Iraq, Syria and throughout the Orient and its Christians." When asked whether or not he wants to visit Iraq, Benedict replied: "I am now like a monk who has decided to spend the rest of his time in prayer and silence." Following the solemn High Mass on the 24th of November, with the Year of Faith was completed, Patriarch Sako I. also extended an invitation to Iraq to Pope Francis. "I told him that the time has come to visit us. He smiled and promised a visit."Text: Asia News/Giuseppe NardiPhoto: Asia NewsTrans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...AMGD