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December 4, 2024Dear Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, Bishop Remigius, Esteemed President, Members of the Syro Malabar Catholic Congress in the Middle East,
Distinguish guests, Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
May the lord give you peace.
I am very pleased to be with you today, together with the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and Bishop Remigius.
This meeting gives me the opportunity to express my appreciation for your big and well-organized social reality that flourishes from the Syro-Malabar tradition, which has its roots in the testimony and preaching of St. Thomas the Apostle.
I would like on this occasion to express my appreciation for the good and the charitable initiatives that the members of the Catholic Congress have carried out in the past, especially at the time of the covid pandemic that had completely transformed the life of society, even in this part of the world.
At a time when many families have experienced the pain of illness and mourning and the bewilderment of losing their jobs, you have been able to help so many people, bring consolation and hope to so many people in need.
All the good that we do on this earth in reality does not disappear with time. In life we can have many activities, achieve much success and make a great career. But all these things will pass. What is able to overcome time and space? Only love remains forever.
This is why God is eternal, because God is love, as Saint John repeatedly says in his letters, and love is forever. When we perform freely an act of love we participate in a special way in God's charity towards humanity.
Furthermore, you experience that actions of solidarity are better achieved by joining forces. Acting alone is not enough. Charity and solidarity bring together and are always inclusive. This is what we learn from our Lord Jesus Christ who gave his life for all, overcoming barriers and enmities.
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Congress has experienced the ability of an ecclesial tradition to share forces and to be effective in social action, solidarity and charity.
My wish is that you may not only continue to do good and join forces in the Syro-Malabar tradition, but also be an example for others and encourage collaboration between different traditions for the promotion of the good life of all and to humbly witness to all the joy of the Gospel, as Pope Francis recommends.
The Middle East, as we know, is a unique land in the world, where different peoples and religions coexist and interact in different ways. There are conflicts and there are many examples of good life. Every day we pray for peace and every day we want to promote good example of fraternal love and commitment.
It is certainly the duty of all Catholic faithful to be united and to be peacemakers, promoters of social friendship with all people of good will, as Pope Francis states in Fratelli tutti.
Different Religions especially have the duty to promote paths of peace and reconciliation. Those who believe in God, as the document on human fraternity signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar recalls, are called to treat everybody as brothers and sisters, especially towards those who are in need.
Dear members of the Catholic Congress, I hope that you will always be protagonists of a world of peace and justice for all.
May the Lord bless you.
