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Skriven 2007-05-28 17:50:06 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                               VIS-Press releases

SYRO-MALANKAR CHURCH: A TIME OF NEW EVANGELIZATION

VATICAN CITY, MAY 28, 2007 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, the Pope
received His Beatitude Issac Cleemis Thottunkal, major archbishop of Trivandrum
of the Syro-Malankars, India.

"As Peter's Successor, I happily confirmed the Synod's decision" said the Holy
Father in his English-language address, referring to the election of Archbishop
Thottunkal to his current office by the Synod of the Syro-Malankar Church on
February 8.

"Now the universal Church, together with all those who belong to your ecclesial
tradition, is counting upon Your Beatitude to ensure that the Malankar
community can proceed along a twofold path. On the one hand, through
faithfulness to the Apostolic See you will always participate fully in the
universal breath of the one Church of Christ; on the other hand your fidelity
to the specifically Eastern features of your tradition will enable the whole
Church to benefit from what in His manifold wisdom the Spirit is saying to the
Churches'."

"As head and shepherd of the Syro-Malankar Church," the Pope continued, "Your
Beatitude has been entrusted with the mission of leading and sustaining the
Christian witness and ecclesial life of the faithful of that noble Church
throughout the vast Indian Sub-Continent and the other regions where Syro-
Malankar Catholics are found."

Going on to refer to the challenges of the current moment, the Holy Father
expressed the view that "now is a time of new evangelization, a time of
constantly renewed and convinced dialogue with all our brothers and sisters who
share our Christian faith, a time of respectful and fruitful encounter between
religions and cultures for the good of all, and especially the poorest of the
poor.

"Our commitment to evangelization needs to be constantly renewed, as we strive
to build peace, in justice and solidarity, for the whole human family. May you
always draw strength from the Lord and from the collegial support of your
brother bishops - the members of the Synod."

Benedict XVI concluded by assuring the major archbishop of his prayers for
bishops of the Syro-Malankar Church, to whom he also sent a special greeting
for "the happy occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the
Syro-Malankar hierarchy."
AC/SYRO-MALANKAR CHURCH/THOTTUNKALVIS 070528 (370)

SUMMARY

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