From the Open Letter
from Muslim Leaders October 13th 2007

To Pope Benedict, Patriarch Bartholomew & Christian leaders.

‘Finding common ground...is not simply a matter for polite ecumenical dialogue...Christians and Muslims...make up more than 55% of the world’s population, making the relationship between these two...the most important factor in contributing to meaningful peace around the world. If Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world cannot be at peace...no side can unilaterally win a conflict between more than half of the world’s inhabitants. Thus our common future is at stake. The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake.

Pope Benedict at the Blue Mosque: Nov. 2006

And to those who nevertheless relish conflict or destruction for their own sake or reckon that ultimately they stand to gain through them, we say that our very eternal souls are also at stake if we fail sincerely to make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony.’

Text in full in members area

Pope Benedict XVI: a Pope with an international compassion

“The Pope Cried Out....”

Pope Benedict on the Middle East: Vatican City, 30th July 2006.

"I cannot fail to think of the ever more serious and tragic situation of the Middle East: hundreds of dead, many injured, a vast mass of homeless and displaced people, cities and infrastructures destroyed, while hatred and thirst for revenge seem to be growing in the hearts of many."

"These facts clearly demonstrate that it is not possible to re-establish justice, create a new order and build real peace when there is recourse to ... violence. More than ever, we see how much the Church's voice is at once prophetic and realistic when, in the face of war and conflicts of all kinds, she indicates the path of truth, justice, love and freedom. This is the path that humanity today must also follow in order to achieve the desired good of real peace."

"In the name of God," the Pope cried out, "I address all those responsible for this spiral of violence, that all sides immediately lay down their arms! To political leaders and international institutions I ask that no efforts be spared in order to obtain the necessary cessation of hostilities and thus to begin to build, through dialogue, a lasting and stable coexistence of all the people of the Middle East. I ask men and women of good will to continue and to intensify the sending of humanitarian aid to those needy and much tried peoples. But above all, may faithful prayers to the good and merciful God continue to be raised from all hearts, that He may concede His peace to that region and to the world entire."

"I entrust this heartfelt appeal," Benedict XVI concluded, "to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Prince of Peace and Queen of Peace, who is so venerated in the countries of the Middle East, where we soon hope to see the reign of that reconciliation for which the Lord Jesus offered His precious Blood." VIS 060731

Stop All The Violence: Pursue A Just Peace.

Patriarchs & Heads of local Christian churches in Jerusalem,
7th July 2006.

“The violence and aggression of this present moment is without proportion or justification....All human beings, Israelis and Palestinians, have the same dignity and must be equally treated. All aggression against human dignity, whether Israeli or Palestinian must stop. Our sufferings will have an end when the truth on both sides is recognised. The right for Israel to have security must be recognised...we firmly support fighting against terrorism...(but the root of this violence)..is the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their freedom."

“It is against law and reason to keep going in the way of death. The moral imperative is clear. Stop all the violence. Stop the killing....break the murderous chain of violence in which we are ensnared. And listen to God’s call."
“Depart from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 33:15)

“Things have gone too far...All Authorities must change course, and with unflinching international pressure and presence, they have to negotiate in order to reach the just and definitive peace."
“What does the Lord your God require of you...to do Justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Patriarch Theophiles III (Greek Orthodox): Patriarch Michel Sabbah (Latin Catholic):Patriarch Turkom II (Armenian Orthodox): Pier Battista Pizzabella ofm (Catholic Franciscan, Custos of the Holy Land): Anba Abraham (Coptic Orthodox): Swarios Mulki Mourad (Syrian Orthodox): Abuna Grima ( Ethiopian Orthodox): Paul Nabil Sayyah (Maronite Catholic): Bishop Riah Abu Al Assal (Episcopalian): Bishop Mounib Younan (Lutheran): Pierre Malki (Syrian Catholic Exarchate): George Baker (Greek Catholic Exarchate): Raphael Minassian (Armenian Catholic Exarchate)

For the full article & up-to date information about the churches in the Middle East, recommended site please visit www.al-bushra.org

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophiles III

Habemus Papam!
20th. April 2005

Pope Benedict XVI: On the Unity of the Church

"In full awareness and at the beginning of his ministry in the Church of Rome that Peter bathed with his blood, the current Successor assumes as his primary commitment that of working tirelessly towards the reconstitution of the full and visible unity of all Christ's followers. This is his ambition, this is his compelling duty. He is aware that to do so, expressions of good feelings are not enough. Concrete gestures are required to penetrate souls and move consciences, encouraging everyone to that interior conversion which is the basis for all progress on the road of ecumenism."

"Theological dialogue is necessary. A profound examination of the historical reasons behind past choices is also indispensable. But even more urgent is that 'purification of memory', which was so often evoked by John Paul II, and which alone can dispose souls to welcome the full truth of Christ. It is before Him, supreme Judge of all living things, that each of us must stand, in the awareness that one day we must explain to Him what we did and what we did not do for the great good that is the full and visible unity of all His disciples.”
Mass with the College of Cardinals: April 20th. 2005

Patriarch Bartholomew: On Primacy

“Primacy does not consist of power, but of a kenosis (selfemptying) which seeks only to bring life to others...moving beyond polemics, we need today to reflect on a period of ecclesial life in which tensions were resolved neither against the pope, nor against councils, but in a different way...

Rome 1955 Today...we understand that primacy is less a question of persons than of ministries of service. These ministries are indeed urgent if we seek not to be admired by men, but to please God...The patriarch stressed the need for self criticism and continuous repentance, adding that to denounce the one who erred first is not the issue, or whether he erred more or less...For us, he affirmed, the fundamental question is the salvation of the world. How we are to save our neighbour, our innumerable neighbours, and, uniquely through the neighbour, save ourselves? To cite the golden rule formulated by St. Paul: 'Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.' When a kenotic ethos finally prevails, then we will easily restore the unity of faith.”
Olivier Clement, Conversations with Patriarch Bartholomew.

The Ecumenical Patriarch

Archbishop Rowan Williams: On the catholic church

“A catholic church is not a church that seeks a uniform global culture. The unity of the church is not cultural; it is in Christ – one Lord, one faith, one baptism – and any number of languages and costumes. It’s been said recently by one theologian that the catholicity of the church is really a kind of great protest against globalisation; the real catholic is the opposite of the globalised, because the catholic is about wholeness, about the wholeness of the person, the wholeness of local culture and language, therefore it’s not simply opening the same fast-food shop in every village on the globe, and it’s not like the global economy, in which people are drawn into somebody’s story and somebody’s interests which in fact makes others poor and excluded. The catholic is the opposite of the globalised because the catholic is about everyone’s welfare, everyone’s growth and justice.”
Archbishop's address to 3rd Global South to South: Ain al Sukhna, Egypt: 28th Oct 2005

The Archbishop of Canterbury
with his wife