Annual Roaco meeting: Focus on war-afflicted countries
From June 24 to 27, the 97th assembly of the Meeting of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches will take place in Rome with contributions and reports from the Holy Land and Ukraine.
By Vatican News
The 97th plenary assembly of the Meeting of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (Roaco) will be held in Rome from Monday June 24 to Thursday June 27. A statement issued by the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches indicates that the sessions will take place in the conference room of the General Curia of the Society of Jesus, starting Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, Cardinal Prefect Claudio Gugerotti, president of Roaco, will preside over the inaugural Eucharistic celebration, during which living and deceased benefactors will be remembered, and prayers for peace will be offered. The countries suffering because of war will be entrusted to the Lord and the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God will be invoked.
Focus on the Holy Land
During the first assembly, attention will be focused on the situation in the Holy Land, with contributions from Mgr Adolfo Tito Yllana, apostolic delegate in Jerusalem; the Custos of the Holy Land, the Franciscan Francesco Patton; and Bethlehem University Vice Chancellor Hernan Santos of the Christian Brothers; information relating to the Pro Terra Sancta 2023 collection will also be shared. In the afternoon, Mgr. Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, will present an overview of the current diplomatic activities of the Holy See, with particular reference to Ukraine, the Middle East and Ethiopia. Subsequently, attention will be focused on the Karabakh region, with a report from Gevork Saroyan, head of the Social Service of the Holy See of Echmiadzin and representative of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians SA Karekin II.
Pastoral care of Eastern Catholics outside their territories
Wednesday will be devoted to a reflection on the theme “The pastoral care of Eastern Catholics residing outside their own territory: challenges and possibilities today”, with the interventions of Mgr. Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan of Philadelphia for Ukrainian Greek-Catholics. ; Bishop Frank Y. Kalabat, of Saint Thomas, Apostle of Detroit to the Chaldeans; Father Éric Millot, director of the Office of Migration and Missions of the French Episcopal Conference; Mgr Antoine Audo, Bishop of Aleppo for the Chaldeans; and Daoud Boutros Tayeh, secretary general of the Pastoral Council of the Maronite Eparchy of Jounieh. Finally, Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, will report on the development of the “Open Hospitals” project.
Audience with the Pope
The work will conclude with the Steering Committee's plan at the end of the plenary session for future nominations. On Thursday, June 27 in the morning, an audience with Pope Francis is planned.
In addition to the speakers, representatives of the Catholic Agencies that are part of Roaco, superiors and officials of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, representatives of the Section of Relations with States of the Secretariat of State, of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity. , the Pontifical Mission Societies and the Holy Childhood will participate in the assembly.
