Holy Father Pope Francis concelebrated Holy Mass with the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, Youssef Absi, on 13th February, 2018. His Holiness Pope Francis conveyed few words about the meaning of the day’s celebration, at which members of the Melkite Greek Synod participated, saying that the Melkite Greek Church is a rich Church with its own theology within Catholic theology and with its own marvelous liturgy.
As reported by Vatican Radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “This Mass with our brother, Patriarch Youssef, confirms our Apostolic Communion: He is the father of a very ancient Church, and he comes to embrace Peter and to say ‘I am in communion with Peter. This is the meaning of the Eucharistic celebration.” Further, His Holiness added, “The Mass was being celebrated for the people of the Melkite Greek Church, for the people who suffer, and for persecuted Christians in the Middle East, who give up their lives, goods, and property because they are driven out.”
After the Mass, Patriarch Youssef thanked the Pope for the Mass of communion. He said, “Personally, I am truly moved by your fraternal charity and the solidarity you have shown to our Church.”
