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Our World

Stories and events from around the world of CNEWA.

Our Gratitude to the Servants

Archbishops Giovanni Moretti, Thomas White and Luciano Angeloni, Apostolic pro-nuncios of Egypt, Ethiopia and Lebanon respectively, have been reassigned to Belgium, New Zealand and Portugal.

We extend our gratitude to these tireless advocates of the poor, the Church and the local community in their service as shepherds of these often strife-ridden lands. They have been invaluable collaborators in our overseas efforts.

Orthodox and ecumenism

The Orthodox Church of America met in St. Louis, Missouri. Included in the list of discussions was a talk geared to lessen anxiety about interactions with Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches.

“There are tensions, but at the same time there’s a need to make sense ofwhere we are going,” said the Rev. Leonid Kishovsky, secretary for ecumenical and external affairs for the Orthodox Church in America. “In some respects they have the same concerns as the Roman Catholics,” he said.

The Church has 900,000 baptized members which include people of Russian, Bulgarian, Roumanian and Syrian descent.

Beit Sahour Blockade

Israeli troops continue to confiscate goods from the village of Beit Sahour near Bethlehem. The villagers, most of whom are Christian, have peacefully withheld taxes from Israeli authorities.

Responding to the villagers’ statement that “we will not finance the bullets that kill our children,” Israeli troops have intermittently blockaded the village for several months and seized an estimated eight million dollars in property.

Leading Christian clergy were denied access to their flocks. “They did not let us do our humanitarian duties,” stated Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the Latin rite Archbishop of Jerusalem. The blockade sealed the village from the rest of the world.

Pope expresses solidarity

In his weekly Angelus remarks, Pope John Paul II expressed his ‘deepest solidarity’ with the people of the West Bank and Gaza. The pope assured them that he “continues to make his own the legitimate request to live in peace and in their own homeland, while respecting the right of every other people to enjoy the security and tranquility that are required.”

The Holy Father made his remarks from his residence which overlooks St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, October 22.

The pope concluded by praying “that peace and concord may be zealously sought after for that land which is sacred to millions of believers-Christians, Jews and Muslims.”

Russian icons exhibited in Vatican

In an unprecedented event, the Vatican in conjunction with the Russian Ministry of Culture, is exhibiting over 100 icons from November 11 through January 30, 1990.

“This exhibit,” said J. S. Melentev, minister of culture of the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, “is an effective step on the road to reciprocal understanding.”

Pope: Forgiveness Must Replace Hate

Leading a prayer service for Lebanon, Pope John Paul II stated that forgiveness must replace hatred, vendettas and fanaticism if peace is to have a chance in Lebanon.

“The Lebanese must he free to decide the future of their country. Their suffering is generated on mistrust and suspicions.”

The prayer service was held in St. Peter’s Square, October 4. Among the estimated 30,000 pilgrims was Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, the leader of Lebanon’s Maronite Catholic Church.

Gorbachev meets Pope John Paul II

In a much heralded event, Mikhail Gorbachev, President of the Soviet Union met with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican on December 4, 1989. The meeting signaled the end of militant atheism in formal communist dogma.

Gorbachev promised expanded religious freedoms for all believers stating that “all have a right to satisfy their spiritual needs.”

John Cardinal O’Connor commenting on this historic meeting stated that ’We are truly on the verge of a second spring.’

Education Center is established

In Amman, Jordan, the Pontifical Mission for Palestine has established a center to address the religious educational needs of the local community.

The Religious Education and Formation Center is staffed by Tom Fitzpatrick, S.J. and Steve Bonian, S.J. members of the Society of Jesus of the New England Province (Jesuits).

The Center and the PMP Library share facilities thus enabling more efficient collaborative efforts.

Christmas celebrations cancelled.

Except for religious services which will call for peace and justice, all Christmas celebrations in the occupied territories were cancelled again this year. In a December 15, 1989 declaration Christian religious leaders in Jerusalem said: “they wished to manifest their deep concern about the continuing tragic events, which are causing unnecessary loss of human lives and suffering to the population.”

UNRWAs 40 Anniversary is observed

Archbishop Renato Martino, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, expressed support for UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

The Archbishop commented that in its 40 years of service UNRWA has often collaborated with the Pontifical Mission for Palestine. One example that he noted was the Gaza School for the Blind which has successfully educated blind youth of Gaza for many years.

Christmas celebration cancelled

Except for religious services which will call for peace and justice, all Christmas celebrations in the occupied territories were cancelled again this year. In a December 15, 1989 declaration Christian religious leaders in Jerusalem said: “they wished to manifest their deep concern about the continuing tragic events, which are causing unnecessary loss of human lives and suffering to the population.”

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