Message of Cardinal Koch to General Assembly of Middle East Council of Churches
On the occasion of the Twelfth General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches, held from 16-20 May 2022 in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, sent a video message to the General Secretary, Dr Michal Abs, and to all the participants.
Commenting the motto of the assembly, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27), Cardinal Koch reflected on the image the boat, often used as a symbol of the symbol of the ecumenical movement. “The endeavor of all Christians towards unity is represented as a boat afloat on the sea of the world, with the mast in the form of a cross and the disciples of different communities sailing together towards unity thanks to the mast of their faith, the wind of their prayer, the anchor of their hope,” said the Cardinal. He continued, “Today, violent storms are surrounding the boat of the Christians of the Middle East, and indeed they are affecting all humanity.” Praising the Middle East Council of Churches for its a “remarkable role in this ‘journeying together’ of Christians and in promoting and shaping ecumenical life in the region,” Cardinal Koch expressed the hope that this twelfth General Assembly “may confirm the leading role of the Middle East Council of Churches in promoting unity and solidarity among all Christians in the region, a unity which is an essential condition for a better future for all.”