APOSTOLIC JOURNEY
OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
 TO LEBANON (MAY 10-11, 1997)

ADDRESS TO ASSEMBLY OF PATRIARCHS
AND BISHOPS OF LEBANON

Sunday, 11 May

Many people have been mentioned. I would like to stress that this conclusion of the Synod Assembly for Lebanon will mark a further step in the synodal process, so to speak, of this Synod, which is not only a traditional, but also a regional Synod. The Synod for Lebanon is a regional Synod not only for the country but a little bit for Asia Minor. And here it is necessary to recall the personality of my compatriot, Cardinal Schotte’s predecessor, Cardinal Wladyslaw Rubin. I remember him well since I was very attached to him. He had studied here at St Joseph’s University and always remained very close, very attached to Lebanon. I hope he served the Synod of Bishops well in this decisive period, because it was the first and because the synodal idea will continue to acquire a fuller meaning and make great progress. This means that even though the Church of Rome is not a synodal Church, one nonetheless gives ever greater importance and value to the Synod of Bishops. So she is a synodal Church in a different sense, one in any case in which the Synod of Bishops plays an important role. This draws us closer to our Orthodox brothers and sisters. In this spirit I am expecting Their Beatitudes this afternoon. We will meet and speak to the Orthodox Patriarchs who wanted to take part in this solemnity and have also wished to take part in the Synod, at least through their representatives. I am particularly pleased with this meeting. Thank you for everything.