杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

杏MAP导航 Francis on Saturday denounced as 鈥榤urderous鈥� the indifference and complicit silence of the world in the face of the unending tragedy in the Middle East which he said is 鈥渋s weeping, suffering and silent as others trample upon those lands in search of power or riches.

The 杏MAP导航 uttered the powerful words in the southern Italian Adriatic port city of Bari where he hosted a day-long with the heads and representatives of some 19 Christian Churches and Communities of the Middle East to implore for peace and for Christians in the troubled region.

Considered a bridge between east and west, Bari also hosts the relics of St. Nicholas, venerated by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

鈥淲e have come as pilgrims to Bari, this window open to the Near East, carrying in our hearts our Churches, our peoples and all those living in situations of great suffering.  We are saying to them, 鈥淲e are close to you鈥�.  the 杏MAP导航 said during the prayer meeting at the seafront. 

The theme of the day-long papal initiative was 鈥�Peace be Upon You!" 

Indifference and complicit silence that kill

鈥淟et there be peace!  This is the cry of all those who are Abel today, a cry that rises up to God鈥檚 throne.  For their sake, we have no right to say, 鈥�Am I my brother鈥檚 keeper?鈥�, in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world,鈥�  the 杏MAP导航 said.

鈥淚ndifference,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渒ills and we desire to lift up our voices in opposition to this murderous indifference.鈥�  鈥淲e want to give a voice to those who have none, to those who can only swallow their tears.  For the Middle East today is weeping, suffering and silent as others trample upon those lands in search of power or riches.鈥� 

The 杏MAP导航 noted that the region so full of light, has in recent years been covered by 鈥渄ark clouds of war, violence and destruction, instances of occupation and varieties of fundamentalism, forced migration and neglect,鈥� all of which he said 鈥渁mid the complicit silence of many.鈥�  

No Middle East without Christians

The Holy Father deplored that 鈥渢he Middle East has become a land of people who leave their own lands behind.鈥�   Warning there is the risk that the 鈥減resence of our brothers and sisters in the faith will disappear, disfiguring the very face of the region,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 deplored 鈥�a Middle East without Christians would not be the Middle East.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis flew in a helicopter early morning to Bari where he greeted the Middle East Christian Church leaders outside the Basilica of St. Nicholas and together they descended to the crypt to pray before the relics and lit a one-flame lamp for peace.  

Prayer 鈥� the flame of hope

Speaking at the seafront, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that with the lamp before St. Nicholas they wanted to 鈥渒indle a flame of hope.鈥�  

Christians, he said, are the light of the world not only when everything is bright around, but also when, in dark moments of history, they refuse to be resigned to the encircling gloom, feeding the 鈥�wick of hope with the oil of prayer and love.鈥�  鈥淔or when we lift up our hands to heaven in prayer, and we stretch out our hands to our brothers and sisters without seeking our own advantage,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渢he fire of the Spirit, the Spirit of unity and of peace, is kindled and leaps into flame.鈥�

The Holy Father urged all to implore God on behalf of the 鈥渓ittle ones, the simple ones, the wounded, and all those at whose side God stands鈥� and beg, 鈥淟et there be peace!鈥�