Who is who at the Synod?

All seven branches of the Catholic Church in the Middle East participate in the Synod: Roman Catholics, known as Latins, Greek Catholic (Melkite), Maronite, Syrian Catholic, Chaldean, Armenian Catholic and Coptic Catholic. Eterovic stressed that the variety of traditions and liturgies is a great wealth for the Church.

The 13 non Catholic Churches in the Middle East will send delegates as observers. In addition, a Jew, a Sunni Muslim and a Shiite Muslim will address the Synod. The Jew will be Rabbi David Rosen from the American Jewish Committee. The Sunni Muslim will be Mr. Muhammad al-Sammak, advisor to the Grand Mufti of Lebanon and the Shiite Muslim will be Mr. Ayatollah Seyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Ahmadabadi, professor of Law from Teheran.

The Synod will last only 14 days and the countries involved number 17: Arab Emirates, Bahrein, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Palestinian Territories and Yemen. Catholics in this area number 5.7 million and constitute about 1.6% of the overall population.

Four languages will be used at the Synod: Arabic, French, English and Italian.

On Friday afternoon, October 8, Father David Neuhaus, Vicar for the Hebrew speaking Catholic communities in Israel, arrived in Rome with Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal and Chaldean Vicar in Jerusalem, Father Paul Collin, who is also parish priest in Beer Sheva.