21/04/2023

Syriac Catholic Patriarch leads conference in Cyprus to commemorate Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation

NICOSIA — Yesterday, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan presided over the opening Mass of a conference titled “The Church in the Middle East: Rooted in Hope” in Nicosia, Cyprus, organized by the Congregation for the Eastern Churches. This conference commemorated the 10th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s delivery of the Apostolic Exhortation “The Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness” following the end of the Roman Synod dedicated to the Middle East.

The Mass was attended by various religious figures, including patriarchs, archbishops, priests, deacons, monks, and nuns. Additionally, a delegation representing the Holy See and the Synod of Eastern Churches was present.

In his sermon, after reading from the Holy Bible, Patriarch Younan expressed his joy in gathering together as one Church with different branches of varying heritages, histories, and liturgical languages. He saw this gathering as an expression of the universal Church with multiple ecclesiastical traditions.