In a joint declaration, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople said:
“We support the theological dialogue promoted by the Joint International Commission, instituted 35 years ago by the Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios and Pope John Paul II here at the Phanar, and which is currently dealing with the most difficult questions that have marked the history of our division and that require careful and detailed study.
“We can say that there is also an ecumenism of suffering. Just as the blood of the martyrs was a seed of strength and fertility for the Church, so too the sharing of daily sufferings can become an effective instrument of unity. The terrible situation of Christians and all who are suffering in the Middle East calls not only for our constant prayer, but also for an appropriate response on the part of the international community.”
Vatican cautions Sri Lanka government
Church officials have warned the government of Sri Lanka against the attempt of supporters of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to use the Pope’s scheduled visit to boost their campaign for re-election.
When the visit was agreed upon there was no election in the offing, and the Vatican is very attentive not to have such visits close to national elections. Then in October, it was announced that an election would be held in January.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo suggested that the papal visit should be postponed but the government insisted it should go ahead.
Rajapaksa supporters are already distributing posters showing a previous meeting of the President with the Pope, adding the slogan ‘Blessings of the Holy Father’. A formal protest was lodged by the organising committee for the papal visit.
They requested that the posters be removed and urged all the political groups to refrain from using either the Pope or his visit to Sri Lanka for the political campaign.
‘Descent into hell’
The bishops of the Central African Republic compared the conflict engulfing their nation as a “descent into hell” which is continuing.
According to a report by Catholic news agency Fides, the bishops said: “The people are still held hostage by armed groups,” and “insecurity still forces many people to flee their homes and villages to take refuge in makeshift camps.
“It seems that some have fun scattering weapons among the population,” the bishops added. “It is an extremely dangerous game, which is not conducive to social cohesion.”
Pope’s December prayer intentions
The Pope’s universal prayer intention for December is: “That the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope to all people of good will”. His intention for evangelisation is: “That parents may be true evangelisers, passing on to their children the precious gift of faith”.
Ex-nuns seek to be ordained as priests
Following the decision of two former Dominican nuns to declare themselves as ordained priests the Catholic bishops of South Africa reaffirmed that women cannot be ordained to the priesthood.
Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, chairman of the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said the Church does not have the authority to ordain women, adding: “Catholic women who accept to be ordained to the priesthood separate themselves from the Church and the sacraments.”
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)