Jerusalem: Middle East Bishops gather at Focolare centre

From November 18-22, 2013, several bishops, friends of the Focolare (Home) Movement, gathered for the first time in Jerusalem for the 32nd Ecumenical Encounter, organized by the Movement. The meeting focused on “the reciprocity of love between disciples of Christ”.

Usually, Ecumenical Encounters of the Focolare Movement are held at Castel Gandolfo Mariapolis Centre, near the Pope’s summer residence. But for 2013, the Movement’s leaders did something new and chose to hold several regional encounters in the Middle East, for two reasons. Firstly, they want to get closer to Christians coming from conflict-stricken areas. Secondly, to enable bishops of five continents, unable to travel to Italy, to explore these encounters and to take part in them. These two reasons, indeed, meet the encouragement and teaching of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, meant to widen the experiences of fellowship in the world and to contribute more to the achievement of ”effective and affective colleagueship” among bishops (cf. Letter to Bishops dated 9th April, 1979, John Paul II).

Consequently, three meetings were held in the Middle East: in Cairo, in Egypt, from September 3-7, 2012, and another in Lebanon from June 4-6, 2013. A meeting in Jerusalem, from November 18-22, has just ended. No fewer than 33 Bishops gathered, coming from Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches, Anglicans, Lutherans and Methodists. Together they reflected and prayed around the theme selected for the occasion: “reciprocity of love between the disciples of Christ“. The latter was mainly used as a guideline to seal formally a covenant between bishops of different Christian churches, committed to live this reciprocity by obeying Christ’s commandment, “Love one another, as I have loved you“. This commitment, the highlight of this 32nd Congress, meets Jesus’ observation in the Gospel: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”.

A positive experience in the Holy Land

The meeting enabled several bishops to explore the Holy Land, and for others who live locally to meet again and be more aware of ecumenical dialogue and its importance to uphold, in a unified manner, a strong Christian presence in the Holy Places.

As a matter of fact, Mgr Shomali and Msgr Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicars for Jerusalem and Nazareth respectively, talked about the religious and geopolitical situation of the country, warning of the difficulties facing Church and people. The congress also received the visit of Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, who acknowledged the significance of holding the meeting in the Holy City, emphasizing that it is “also a solid support for us, an obvious evidence that we are not forgotten. You have spoken not only of dialogue, but you are a living dialogue”.

Beyond ecumenical dialogue, the bishops turned to interfaith prospects during a meeting at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, on November 21, 2013, for an exchange of experiences or initiatives launched by themselves or by lay people in their countries to promote and advance meetings between different religions, especially in countries where Christianity is not a majority.

Because Church of the Middle East is not unique, several partnership projects were presented by European Associations, such as the Community of Sant’Egidio, Young Men’s Christian Association, and Syndesmos (Orthodox Youth Movement). These partnerships are meant to ensure that, through mutual and solid friendship of Bishops and Churches, Christians meet and form an increasingly universal community.

Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem