When Christians emigrate

The special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops is now being held in the Vatican (until 24 October). Its theme is: “The Catholic Church in the Middle East: communion and witness. ‘Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul’ (Acts 4: 32)”. There are 185 Synodal Fathers. They include Patriarchs, Cardinals, and Archbishops from many countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, but also from Europe, in particular from those nations where the diaspora of Middle Eastern Christians is greatest. Some of the European participants at the assembly have addressed, or will address, the assembly. We offer a summary of the first interventions, after that of Cardinal Peter Erdo, President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conference (CCEE), who opened the Synod (integral text in SIR Europe 71/2010).Greece. “The massive emigration of Eastern Catholic faithful from the Middle East to the West in territories of Latin ecclesiastical districts is an urgent problem of their pastoral care and of their legal status. Vatican II and later the supreme legislator in the Catholic Church, the Roman Pontiff, in his concern for the universal Church, with the promulgation of two Codes, one for the Latin Church and another for the Eastern Catholic Churches, thereby sufficiently provided them with adapted standards, prescribing faithful observance. Foremost the Eastern Code enunciates a general principle, according to which the faithful of the Eastern Church, even if entrusted (commissi) to the pastoral care of a Bishop or a parish priest of another Church sui iuris, also included here is the Latin Church, remain however always members of their own Church, held to observe their own rite everywhere in the world, understood as their own liturgical, spiritual heritage and their discipline. Another principle is as follows: In the places where a hierarchy for the Eastern faithful has not yet been established by the Apostolic See, one must retain as their own Hierarch (Ordinary) of the same faith, the Hierarch of another Church sui iuris, even of the Latin Church, that is, they are legally subject to the jurisdiction of the local Bishop, even of the Latin Church. In these cases, a right and duty of the Latin Bishop – who has Eastern Catholic faithful in his diocese – is to safeguard and guarantee to these faithful observance of their own rite”. (Mons. Dimitrios Salachas, Apostolic Exarch for the Catholics of Byzantine Rite living in Greece) Northern Episcopal Conference. “The Bishops of the Northern Episcopal Conference (NEC), together with their Middle Eastern brothers and sisters, are aware that in addition to the difficult political situation and the confrontation with extremist Muslims, a difficult problem is also the emigration of Christians. This problem can only be resolved with the definitive solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The urgent moment of reconciliation and peace has arrived! The Christians of the Middle East, rather than flee the region, are especially necessary in this vital process of justice and peace. In fact, they have inherited the Christian mandate of forgiveness. Therefore it is not a question of their welcome in foreign lands but more their presence in the Middle East to safeguard a historical culture that is vital for the entire world. Peace is the urgent vocation of the Holy Land! Justice for the three monotheistic religions is that Jerusalem is open to all! The emigration of Christians coming from Eastern countries has also touched the North of the land. One of the reasons is without a doubt the galloping economic development of the five nordic countries of our episcopal conference. Since its crisis two years ago, we must take Iceland out of this now. These five countries are characterized by a Catholic percentage of only 2 to 3 % of the entire population, the great majority being Lutherans. This corresponds, in several Eastern countries, to the percentage of Christians in relation to Muslims. The pastoral situation in our Northern countries is therefore that of a Diaspora. More so, it is very diversified and achieves positive experiences with priests and religious persons coming from Eastern Nations. In many places, Catholic Churches have been used by Catholic Christians as well as non-Catholics for their Divine Liturgy. This too is a sign of practiced ecumenism!”. (Mons. Pierre Burcher, Bishop of Reykjavïk, Iceland) Romania. “Many aspects unite our Romanian Church with the sister Churches of the Middle East: above all its being a “little flock”. The Greek Catholic Church in Romania too lives its difficult mission as a minority; a presence that is, though, very powerful in the history of our country, that synthesizes in its being in full communion with the See of Peter and the treasure house of the Byzantine tradition. Dear Eastern brothers, we are called, together with you, to face the trials of our times: the huge wave of emigration and globalization with all of its challenges and idols which Pope Benedict XVI spoke about and which we are all called to expose. Further, such a situation of emigration-which we have never before experienced in the history of our Romanian peoples-in which, out of a population of 22 million citizens, nearly five million are living in Europe and in the world, offers the opportunity for productive comparisons and mutual enrichment. Immigration in sharing enhances all; therefore, we always keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, the first one who had to move out of the land of Egypt, to ask of and receive from him that renewed enthusiasm, and that we must then communicate to our faithful and our communities”. (Mons. Virgil Bercea, Bishop of Oradea Mare, Gran Varadino of the Romanian, Romania)