On Sunday Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. During his homily he announced the theme of the next Synod of Bishops, in 2012. That Synod will be focused on new Evangelization. The Holy Father said: I have decided to dedicate the next Ordinary General Assembly, ...read more

After two weeks of speeches, discussion, study and prayer, the Synod of Bishops on the Middle East came to a close. The last order of business was to had over to the Holy Father a list of recommendations regarding the current situation of the Churches in the Middle East. It’s a long list of propositions. ...read more

A council for new evangelization, Bishops from the Middle East (and the world) travel to Rome for a Synod, and an upcoming canonization. Catholic News Service’s, Carol Glatz and John Thavis review a busy week at the Vatican. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

Wednesday afternoon the Synod of Bishops on the Middle East received a special guest speaker: Rabbi David Rosen, advisor to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and director of the department for Inter-religious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee. Rabbi Rosen told the Synod that it is necessary to hear the story of Christians living in ...read more

It is my hope that, with Bishops from around the world gathered for this year’s Synod on the Middle East, the eyes of the world will be turned to Rome for new insights on how to respond to issues in the Middle East. When I was in grade 10, we had a foreign student come ...read more

Under a gray, rainy, roman sky the Bishops participating in the Synod on the Middle East made their way to the Synod Hall. Pope Benedict began the Synod by reminding participants that October 11th is the day the Second Vatican Council was inaugurated 48 years ago. At that time October 11th was the feast of ...read more

On Sunday, October 10, 2010, during the opening Mass for the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, I have to admit that the number 23 was on my mind. I was first introduced to the symbolism of the number some years ago, over lunch with a wonderful pastor from Church of the Virgin Mary, ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI will open the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East with Mass this Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Holy Father is hopeful that the Synod, which runs until October 24th, will provide an opportunity to deepen bonds between members of the local Churches of the Middle East and the universal Church, ...read more