The unity of the Churches, for the survival of Christians in the Middle East

In a long reflection, the cardinal returned to refer to the theme of the “fusion” between local realities, such as the Assyrians and the Chaldeans. In the same way, he spoke of the Syro-Catholics and the Syro-Orthodox. The base is a land, a liturgy, a language, a heritage and a common history”. It is necessary to study a unitary project from a “courageous dialogue”.

Baghdad () – In profound studies on the “Oriental heritage” and in the writings of the “Fathers of the Church” there is nothing feasible to “prevent” the “fusion” between the Chaldean Church and the Assyrian Church of East under the common name of “Church of the East” (or of the East). This is what the Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans, Card. Louis Raphael Sako, in a message published in the patriarchy media. In the text he refers again to the objective of the unity between the different Christian confessions: to protect and guarantee their own survival. The same applies to the Syrian Catholic and Orthodox Church under the name of the Syrian Church of Antioch, and to all the realities that “share a common land, liturgy, language, heritage and history”, explains the Cardinal.

Unity among the Churches is a recurring and fundamental theme for card. Sako, who in the past has proposed on several occasions a common path between the different ecclesiastical communities, especially the Eastern Catholic ones. Because only by joining forces is it possible to guarantee a future for a minority reality in the Middle East region that in the past has suffered violence, attacks and marginalization even within the political and institutional framework of their own countries.

In the course of history, he explains, these Churches “have welcomed many different peoples, nationalities and languages” of which, however, it is possible to reach a common synthesis. “It is possible to study this ‘unitary project’ through a courageous dialogue”, underlines the Chaldean primate, “in order to guarantee the future and an influential presence in our societies”. The fact of “being a minority, added to injustice and forced migration”, he warns, has pushed many to emigrate to the nations of the “diaspora”, since the original lands are also those that “during the first seven centuries of history welcomed the majority of Christians”.

On the other hand, for the card. Sako, unity does not at all mean denying and erasing individual identities or, worse still, dispersing them into an anonymous “uniformity”. On the contrary, unity means preserving “a common faith, respecting the leadership of each Church, its tradition, liturgy, nationality and language.” His unity in faith is “real, not fictitious”, continues the Cardinal, and is first of all a “theological unity” based on the Trinity and God the Father. “Ecumenism,” he says, “lies in diversity and pluralism. It begins within a parish, a diocese, a patriarchate, and then among the Churches themselves.”

The cardinal urges “not to be afraid of challenges” or criticism -of which the patriarch himself is the object, especially for his “interference in politics”, an accusation that he rejects. “I defend our citizenship,” says Card. Sako -, the oppressed people and I invite the government to create a civil regime. In addition, I am not affiliated with any type of party and I do not receive “bribes” from anyone”. Finally, the Chaldean primate once again mentions the challenge of ecumenism, which implies “a new vision of the Churches”, a “training of the clergy ” and a greater “openness” of priests and faithful. And again, a renewal of theological and spiritual education and the recognition of the “signs” of God’s love to advance together in “unity, love, service and testimony”. “We must strengthen the Christian presence in this turbulent Middle East”, he concludes, “and put an end to fanaticism and ecclesiastical, as well as national and ethnic egocentrism”.