World Ignores Christian Persecution in the Middle East says Vatican

News Source: Yahoo!News

NICOSIA, Cyprus – The Vatican said Sunday that the international community is ignoring the plight of Christians in the Middle East, and that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Iraq and political instability in Lebanon have forced thousands to flee the region.

A working paper released during Pope Benedict XVI's pilgrimage to Cyprus to prepare for a crisis summit of Middle East bishops in Rome in October also cites the "extremist current" unleashed by the rise of "political Islam" as a threat to Christians.

The paper said that the line between religion and politics is blurred in Muslim countries, "relegating Christians to the precarious position of being considered non-citizens, despite the fact that they were citizens of their countries long before the rise of Islam."

"The key to harmonious living between Christians and Muslims is to recognize religious freedom and human rights," it said.

In his final Mass in Cyprus on Sunday, Benedict said he was praying that the October meeting will focus the attention of the international community "on the plight of those Christians in the Middle East who suffer for their beliefs."

He appealed for an "urgent and concerted international effort to resolve the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, especially in the Holy Land, before such conflicts lead to greater bloodshed."

The Vatican considers mostly Greek Orthodox Cyprus as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East and invited bishops to come to the Mediterranean island to receive the working paper.

The pope said Cyprus can "play a particular role in promoting dialogue and cooperation" in the region.

A meeting between the pope and a Muslim leader was scrapped after the Turkish Cypriot official was delayed crossing the United Nations-controlled buffer zone that divides the island between ethnic Turks and Greeks, the Vatican said.

Yusuf Suicmez, the head of Turkish Cypriots' religious affairs department, said he had hoped to pray with the pope for peace and brotherhood. Benedict briefly met with another Turkish Cypriot Muslim leader on Saturday as part of efforts to talk to both sides of the island's decades-old conflict and help foster reconciliation.

Cyprus was ethnically split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkish Cypriots declared an independent republic in the north in 1983, but only Turkey recognizes it, and it maintains 35,000 troops there.

The island's Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and newly-elected Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu resumed long-running reunification talks in May after a two-month pause for the poll. The talks have yielded only limited progress so far.

Benedict has tread a careful diplomatic path since arriving Friday on the island, but he made a poignant appeal for peace before leaving.

The pope said he saw for himself the "sad division of the island" and that he was "deeply moved" by the pleas of Cypriots who wished to return to homes in the north that were lost during the war.

"Let me encourage you and your fellow citizens to work patiently and steadfastly with your neighbors to build a better and more certain future for all your children," the pope said.

A group of around 100 Orthodox Christian demonstrators earlier staged a peaceful protest against Benedict's visit outside the Nicosia sports stadium where the pope presided over Mass, holding aloft banners calling the pope "a heretic."

The Vatican estimates there are about 17 million Christians from Iran to Egypt, and that while many Christians have fled, new Catholic immigrants — mostly from the Philippines, India and Pakistan — have arrived in recent years in Arab countries to work as domestic or manual laborers.

The 46-page document said input from clerics in the region blamed the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories for inhibiting freedom of movement, the economy and religious life, alleging that access to holy places is dependent on military permission that is sometimes denied on security grounds.

It also complained that some Christian fundamentalists use biblical texts to justify Israel's occupation "making the position of Christian Arabs an even more sensitive issue."

The document said the rise of "political Islam" in Arab, Turkish and Iranian societies and its extremist currents are "clearly a threat to everyone, Christians and Muslims alike."

The Vatican expects about 150 bishops to attend the Oct. 10-24 meeting in Rome.

Pope Cyprus Arrival

The Holy Father has arrived in Cyprus (watch here) being welcomed by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias at Paphos Airport.

His arrival was overshadowed by the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gaza issue.

We continue to pray for the success of this historic papal visit to the island of Cyprus.

Papal Visit to Cyprus Sends hope to Catholic

Let us all pray for the safety travel of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI's Pilgrimage trip to the island of Cyprus. May God keep him and his companions safe. We also pray for Christian Unity. For LIVE COVERAGE watch CatholicTV or at EWTN.

Here's the itinerary schedule of His Holiness trip from CatholicTV.

The CatholicTV Network will provide coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Cyprus June 4-6 at noon and 8 p.m. each day.
# June 4 Arrival in Cyprus and ecumenical celebration
# June 5 Visit to the president and Mass in Cyprus
# June 6 Mass in Nicosia and farewell ceremonies

A little information about Cyprus is provided below by EWTN:

Background
Cyprus is a republic in East Mediterranean. Christianity was introduced in apostolic times, and has had a continuous history there from the 4th century.

Latin and Eastern were rites established, but the latter prevailed, and Cyprus became Orthodox from the schism in 1054.

The island nation of Cyprus is home to 800,000 people. The country is home to 13 parishes, two bishops, and 30 religious and diocesan priests. more


Act 13: 3 -5

3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleu'cia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 When they arrived at Sal'amis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.

NICOSIA, Cyprus, MAY 27, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's upcoming June 4-6 visit to Cyprus is anticipated by Catholics as a "huge event," said a priest of that country.

Father Umberto Barato told H2O News, "For us, as Catholic Cypriots, this is a huge event."

The priest, who is from Nicosia, added, "We feel that we -- 5,000-6,000 people on an island -- are not lost."

H2O News spoke with Father Barato at the Franciscan-run Holy Cross Catholic Church near the Paphos Gate in Nicosia. The community includes some 50 nationalities: Filipinos, Indians, Singhalese, Europeans, and others that have immigrated to the island.

Father Barato noted, "I hope that immigration continues, not only because it means that we have faithful in the churches, but also because these people influence the Cypriot society."

"It is a beneficial influence made up of positive elements that should be introduced into the Cypriot tradition," he added.

Benedict XVI will celebrate a Mass at Holy Cross Church on June 5, with the participation of priests, religious, deacons, catechists and ecclesial movement directors from Cyprus.

The Pontiff will also stay at the Franciscan convent next to the church during his visit to that country.

Struggles

The apostolic visit comes as Cyprus continues to struggle with Turkey over the northern section of the island.

There have long been tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority; since 1974, the latter has controlled a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot-occupied area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but only Turkey recognizes this.

In recent years, the United Nations has encouraged the island to renew unification efforts. But little progress has been made and the conflict is one of the reasons keeping Turkey out of the European Union.

The capital city of Nicosia is currently split between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

The buildings of the Franciscans are located in a United Nations buffer zone, a cease fire line that was established in 1964 to divide the two conflicting communities.

Another priest, Father Martin Zavaleta, stated, "All this area was abandoned for several years."

He continued: "A few years ago, people began to live in this area, but they cannot go past here, the roads are blocked.

"Some years ago, certain Christians from the Turkish section -- Turkish Christians -- would pass over; they would come and participate in the Eucharistic.

"Now, however, they no longer participate in our celebrations," Father Zavaleta added.

Father Barato noted that he feels the Holy Father's support of Cyprus even on a political level. He affirmed, "I think that this will 'move' the discussion about current issues in terms of liberation from the Turks."