H.H. the Pope of Rome addressed the Patriarch Ignatius Peter the VIII Abdel-Ahad of the Syrian Catholic Church in the East with a letter accepting the resignation of the Patriarch and appointing a committee from three Bishops to carry the work of the Church until a new Patriarch is elected end of this year. In his letter, the Pope expressed his spiritual link with the resigned Patriarch and praised the remarkable works and sacrifices that the Patriarch has offered to the wellbeing of his church. In his last address, Patriarch Abdel-Ahad confirmed that those who serve the church shall always remember that they are humble servants to their Lord Jesus Christ. The Patriarch thanked all those who helped him in his ministry.
Middle East Council of Churches Office of International Ecumenical Relations P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon
Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
+961-1-353-938 http://www.mec-churches.org/