Patriarch Youssef
Patriarch Gregorios III Laham on the island of Sardinia, 24 October (arabic)
Sardinia will welcome Gregorios III Laham
The Patriarch of Antioch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church will visit the island on the occasion of the closure of the Year of Faith
Cagliari, 23 October 2013
(Zenit.org) Fadi Sotgiu Rahi, C.SS.R.
Sardinia continues to live fully the Year of Faith, according to the appeal of Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and Archbishop Arrigo Miglio, praying, meditating, witnessing, making pilgrimages and loving one another in accordance with the Word of the Gospel.
The island experienced a big event during the course of the month of September, hosting Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to the sanctuary of our Lord of Bonaria, which together with his words gave consolation and courage to all the islanders, to go forward believing in Jesus Christ, notwithstanding the difficulties of every day life, entrusting themselves to Mary, Mother of the Church.
On next 24 November, the Pope will close the Year of Faith with a solemn Eucharistic celebration in Saint Peter’s Square, in which all the Eastern Catholic Patriarchs, bishops from all continents and faithful from all over the world will participate.
On the same day, His Beatitude Gregorios III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch, and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, will arrive at Elmas airport for a three-day visit.
During the visit, the patriarch will meet the civil authorities and local churches. He will then celebrate the Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Cagliari. The celebration will be the occasion for the solemn investiture of new knights of the Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem.
So Sardinia will conclude the Year of Faith by welcoming the Patriarch of the Melkite Church of the East and worldwide, thanking the Lord for the gift he has given to the universal Church to experience this time. So the Sardinian Church, having embraced His Holiness, will also embrace His Beatitude.
(23 October 2013) © Innovative Media Inc.
http://www.zenit.org/it/articles/la-sardegna-accogliera-gregorio-iii-laham