Conference of Latin Bishops of Arab Regions in Rome

Those who participated in the conference were: Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, and his four auxiliaries, Archbishop Maroun Lahham from Amman, Bishop William Shomali from Jerusalem, Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo from Nazareth and Father David Neuhaus, responsible for the Hebrew speaking Catholics in Israel, Bishop Paul Dahdah of Beirout, Bishop Jean Sleiman from Baghdad, Bishop Camillo Ballin from North Arabia, Bishop Paul Hinder from South Arabia, Bishop Giorgio Bertin from Djibouti and Somalia. Bishop Adel Zaki from Alexandria and Father George Abu Khazen from Aleppo were absent. The meeting was coordinated by the secretary of the Bishops’ Conference, Father Pietro Felet.

On the first day, Tuesday, September 17, the day was consecrated to an exchange of news from the different areas. Each bishop told about the special events, the joys and the challenges in his diocese. Of course, the focus was on the political situation in Egypt and especially in Syria. Towards evening, Cardinal Sarah, President of the Cor Unum Council in the Vatican, responsible for charitable activities of the Church came to discuss with the bishops their role as those responsible for charity in their dioceses.

On the second day, Wednesday, September 18, a delegation of bishops participated in the Pope’s Wednesday audience. After lunch, the bishops renewed their discussions. Bishop Sleiman from Baghdad chaired the discussion on the moral and political challenges in the life of the Church in the Middle East. Towards evening, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia from the Pontifical Council for the Family arrived and discussed the challenges facing the family in the modern age.

On the third day, Thursday, September 19, the bishops discussed internal Church affairs. Thereafter, Archbishop Lahham reported on a meeting held in Lebanon to discuss the Pope’s exhortation following the Synod on the Middle East, a meeting in which many Catholic leaders took part. After lunch,. Patriarch Twal reported on the meeting held in Amman to discuss the challenges faced by the Christians in the Middle East, attended by local Church heads, Christian leaders from abroad and the political authorities in Jordan. Towards evening, Dr. Salvatore Martinez from the Movement of the Renewal in the Spirit came to present plans for a new family center to be erected in Nazareth.

On the fourth day, Friday, September 20, the bishops had a fascinating discussion with Cardinal Turkson from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace on the situation in Syria and other questions connected to the area.

The meeting was fascinating and at the end of it the Bishops published a press release regarding the situation in Syria, which can be read here

See video clip here

In addition to the sessions, all the bishops were invited to celebrate mass with Pope Francis in Saint Martha. The bishops divided into three groups, each day a group celebrating morning mass with the Pope. On Friday it was the turn of the Latin Patriarch and his auxiliaries, Archbishop Maroun, Bishops William and Marcuzzo and Father David.