New Bishop in Moscow is reassuring about Church’s “mission” in Russia

Moscow, Russia, Oct.29,2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – The entrance ceremony of Mgr Paolo Pezzi as archbishop and head of Moscow’s Mother of God Archdiocese was held in the presence of 1,500 worshippers, 200 priests as well as members of the Orthodox clergy, the diplomatic corps and journalists. With the mass performed in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow on Saturday Mgr Pezzi took over from Mgr Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, the former head of the archdiocese in the Russian capital, who moved to Minsk, in Belarus.

During the ceremony Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, read out a message from the Patriarch of Moscow Alexy II. In it the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church voiced his hopes that the tenure of the new head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Moscow would be a time of “good relations between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches and of an early resolution of the problems between us.”

The message ends saying that it all depends on “how effectively we testify to the world about Christian values,” a clear reference to charges made by the Patriarchate against the Catholic Church in Russia and the Vatican over alleged Catholic proselytising, a major obstacle preventing a meeting between Alexy II and the Pope.

Both Mgrs Kondrusiewicz and Pezzi referred to the issue in the days before the ordination of the new archbishop and metropolitan.

The former bishop of Moscow expressed his regrets that in his 16-year tenure he failed “to establish better relations with the Russian Orthodox Church.”

“I have never promoted any proselytising activities, which are contrary to how I see things as well as to Church teachings,” he stressed. “Never the less, the dialogue was not disrupted, and I wish that the new archbishop may do more in this area.”

For his part Mgr Pezzi, from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Charles Borromeo, explained his point of view on “mission.”

In a long interview with the Russian news agency Interfax-Religion he said that “mission is a testimony of evangelical values [. . . whereas] proselytism starts at the point where the real mission ends. Therefore, if all of us—both Catholics and Orthodox—practice ‘mission,’ we can develop good understanding and pursue unity, as there will be no place left for conflicts ”

In the interview the new archbishop also mentioned some of the goals he has set for himself in his new pastoral role, which he views as a continuation of what Mgr Kondrusiewicz started. In addition to ecumenism, he wants greater care for clergy training, greater support for young priests as well as men and women religious and renewed commitment to face the great problems that affect Russian society.

Currently some 600,000 Catholics live in Russia, although some experts say Russian Catholics might account for 1 per cent of the population, or 1.5 million people.

Currently there are 230 Catholic parishes registered in Russia, plus some 30 other organisations. But some 30 per cent of the parishes still do not have their own churches, which were nationalised in Soviet times, something that is still a serious problem.

Some 300 clergymen from many countries around the world carry out pastoral services.

Today in Church History

1061 Emperor disposes of bishop Cadalus and Pope Honorius II

1956 Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Luctuosissimi eventus

1958 Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, elected Pope, taking name John XXIII

1965 Pope Paul VI proclaims Jews not collectively guilty for crucifixion 

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 625 Boniface V ends his reign as Catholic Pope

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Jewish religious extremists suspected in church arson in Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Oct.25,2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – Israeli police has not yet identified those responsible of a blaze at the Baptist Church on Rehov Narkiss (Narkiss Street) in Jerusalem, but the Israeli press is unanimously pointing the finger at Jewish extremist religious circles.

“We don't suspect anyone specific but they were extremists for sure," said Charles Kopp, a pastor at the church.

“Every society has its fanatics and there is no lack of fanatics here in the Middle East,” he added.

The fire, which was set Tuesday night, did not hurt anyone, but it did damage the building.

The sanctuary had opened in 1993 after the older wooden chapel was burnt down in 1982.

The arsonists broke into the church building, located in the upscale Jerusalem neighbourhood of Rehavia, just before 11 pm on Tuesday night, setting it afire in three different places with flammable materials, Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said

Despite fire fighters’ quick action, made possible by Jewish neighbours who called the fire department—a fact highlighted by the Israeli press—, the floor was severely charred, windows were broken, about 40 chairs were burned, and everything was blackened by smoke.

The church is used by four separate congregations, including two for Messianic Jews, with services offered in English, Hebrew, and Russian.

Some of the Russian speakers attending the services for Messianic Jews had been previously threatened, writes the Jerusalem Post. Messianic Jews consider themselves Jewish but believe also in Jesus.

The church is located in Rehavia, a leafy upscale Jerusalem neighbourhood. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish residents of a nearby area have in recent years begun moving into the area and trying to impose their way of life.

In response to the attack, the Israeli office of the Anti-Defamation League, which monitors hate crimes, condemned the attack and called for tolerance.

“The ADL strongly condemned this arson and apparent hate crime,” the New-York based organisation said. “We urged authorities to do everything in their power to protect all religious sites and see that the perpetrators of the crime are brought to justice.”

Today in Church History

1948 Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical In Multiplicibus Curis

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