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certain that the theme of ecumenical cooperation between the Christians

of that region will receive great attention. Indeed, it is highlighted in

the Instrumentum Laboris, which I consigned to the Catholic Bishops of the

Middle East during my recent visit to Cyprus, where I was received with

great fraternal warmth by His Beatitude Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of

Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus. The difficulties that the Christians of the

Middle East are experiencing are in large measure common to all: living

as a minority, and yearning for authentic religious freedom and for peace.

Dialogue is needed with the Islamic and Jewish communities. In this context

I shall be very pleased to welcome the Fraternal Delegation which the

Ecumenical Patriarch will send in order to participate in the work of the

Synodal Assembly.

Your Eminence, dear members of the Delegation, I thank you for

your visit. I ask you to convey my fraternal greetings to His Holiness

Bartholomaios I, to the Holy Synod, to the clergy and all the faithful of

the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Through the intercession of the Apostles Peter

and Paul, may the Lord grant us abundant blessings, and may he keep us

always in his love.