Pope addresses cardinals, decries ‘terrorism of previously unimaginable dimensions’
October 20, 2014
As he convened a consistory of cardinals on October 20, Pope Francis lamented the plight of Christians in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria.
“We cannot resign ourselves to thinking about the Middle East without Christians, who for 2,000 years have confessed the name of Jesus,” he said.
“We are witnessing a phenomenon of terrorism of previously unimaginable dimensions,” he added. “Many of our brothers and sisters are being persecuted and have been constrained leave their homes in a brutal way … This unfair situation requires an adequate response by the international community, as well as and in addition to our constant prayer.”
The consistory is devoted to the canonization of three blesseds as well as to the situation of the Middle East’s Christians.
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Further information:
- Concistoro per il voto su due Cause di Canonizzazione e per la situazione in Medio Oriente (Holy See Press Office)
- Pope Francis: Middle East without Christians unthinkable (Vatican Radio)
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Oct. 20, 2014 9:01 AM ET USA
This address is remarkable for one thing: the total absence of any mention whatsoever of who the perpetrators of this terrorism are. One would almost think reading it that terrorism acted on its own in the Middle East. Of course, Pius XII is sometimes criticized for never directly uttering the word "Nazis", but he feared legitimately that more victims might be persecuted and killed if he did. One has to ask today though, How could things get any worse in the Middle East than they already are?
