The Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops Archbishop Nikola Eterović, with the approval of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, has appointed Fr Piergiorgio Gianazza an “Adiutor Secretarii Specialis” or expert at the Special Assembly. Fr Gianazza, is Vice Rector of the community in Bethlehem and lecturer at the “Ratisbonne” Salesian Theological Centre in Jerusalem.
Fr Gianazza, 65 years of age has spent all his missionary apostolate in the Salesian Province of the Middle East , in the communities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and in Lebanon. He has also published a number of works on the relationship between the Church and the religious situation in the Middle East such as “Oriente cristiano - Rassegna bibliografica (1965-2005)”, published in 2007 by the Libreria Ateneo Salesiano (LAS), and “Cattolici di rito orientale e Chiesa latina in Medio Oriente” and “Temi di teologia orientale 1” both published this year by Edizioni Dehoniane.
Fr Gianazza will not be the only Salesian taking part in the Synod. Also taking part by right is Archbishop Ignazion Bedini SDB, since 1990 the archbishop of Isphahan, Iran.
According to the “Lineamenta” issued on 8 December last year, the fundamental aims of the Assembly are “to confirm and strengthen Christians in their identity through the Word of God and the Sacraments” and “revitalise ecclesial communion among the Churches.” The three main areas to be considered are :”the Catholic Church in the Middle East,” “Ecclesial communion” and “Christian witness.”
On the site of Vatican Radio a section will proivide updates on the progress of the Assembly in the 4 official languages – Italian, French, English and Arabic – with summaries in Armenian and Hebrew.
Published 08/10/2010
