The 94th plenary session of the agencies connected to the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO) wrapped up their 4-day meeting on Thursday with a papal audience.

Speaking to participants, Pope Francis touched on the major topics and issues upon which the organization focused its attention.

The Pope opened his speech expressing satisfaction that the plenary session could be held in-person, rather than online as occurred in 2020 due to the pandemic, saying it is more helpful for ROACO’s work.

“We need to encounter one another,” he said, “to share ideas in fruitful dialogue and to hear the questions and the cries for help coming to us from so many parts of the world, particularly from the Churches in the countries where you carry out your work.”

The Pope added that he recently experienced this fact first-hand as he traveled to Iraq in early March.

Pope Francis then turned his thoughts to Eritrea and Lebanon, mentioning especially the pain caused by the Beirut port explosion on 4 August 2020, which left hundreds dead.

“I thank you for your efforts to support Lebanon in this grave crisis,” he said, “and I ask you to pray, and invite others to pray, for our meeting on 1 July with the Heads of the Christian Churches in Lebanon, that the Holy Spirit will enlighten and guide us.”—Vatican News