An appeal "to spare no efforts to restore legality and civil cohabitation soon and make honest and loyal citizens feel they can rely on the state institutions’ appropriate protection". This appeal "to civil and religious authorities" was made yesterday by Benedict XVI, before the Angelus, to "draw the attention of the international community, the religious leaders and all the men and women of good will to the tragedy that is taking place in some Eastern countries, where Christians are the victims of intolerance and cruel abuse". "Now I am thinking of Iraq and India in particular", he pointed out, as he joined the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches at the end of the Episcopal Synod. "I am sure he added that the ancient and noble populations of those nations have learnt, over centuries of respectful cohabitation, to appreciate the contribution that the small but industrious and skilled Christian minorities give to the development of their common homeland. They ask for no privileges, they just want to keep living in their country". Finally, the announcement, that he had made in the sermon during the Mass that he had celebrated just a little bit earlier, that, "in October next year, Rome will host the II Special Assembly of the Synod for Africa. Before then, God willing, in March I intent to go to Africa".
