Cardinals address the plight of Christians in the Middle East

Consistory green lights canonization of Bl Joseph Vaz and Bl Maria Cristina.

Cardinals pray together at a consistory in February

Monday's consistory of cardinals focused on the plight of Christians in the Middle East, especially in light of the rise of the Islamic State, and it also decided on two causes for canonization.

Cardinals and patriarchs from the Middle East together with top officials of the Vatican Secretariat of State and interested dicasteries attended Monday’s summit with the Pope.

Initially scheduled in order to proceed with the causes of canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz and Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception, the consistory meeting was enlarged by Pope Francis, who wanted it to be dedicated to the discussion of the plight of Christians, taking advantage of the presence of Middle Eastern patriarchs in Rome, on the heels of the synod.

In his opening address, Pope Francis stressed that “we cannot resign ourselves to think of a Middle East deprived of Christians, who have been settled there for 2,000 years”.

The Pope said “so many of our brothers are persecuted and had to leave their homes,” adding that “it seems the value of human life is not considered anymore, that the person does not count and may be sacrificed to other interests”. He pointed out that “many remain indifferent” while this happens.

After the Pope’s initial address, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, took the floor. The Cardinal said that “the military response cannot be the only one” put into action in the Middle East.

“In the specific case of the violations and the abuses committed by the so-called Islamic State, the international community, through the United Nations and the appropriate bodies, will have to act in order to prevent possible and new genocide and to assist the numerous refugees," said Parolin.

Regarding the humanitarian drama of refugees and displaced persons in the Middle East, Parolin underscored that the Church urges the international community “to generously face this tragedy” and at the same time provides help through local relief services.?

The consistory also approved two causes of canonization. The cardinals did not set a date for the canonization of Blessed Maria Cristina of the Immaculate Conception, an Italian religious who founded, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Congregation of the Sisters, Expiatory Victims of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

The Pope himself will canonize Blessed Joseph Vaz, a native of Goa who evangelized Sri Lanka, whose Canonization Mass will take place January 14, 2015, during the papal trip to Sri Lanka.

Source: Catholic News Agency