Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay hosted today His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations at Beit Maroun (Strathfield).

Archbishop Gallagher who is in Australia to commemorate the 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Holy See, and previously the Apostolic Nuncio for Australia, was joined by current Apostolic Nuncio His Excellency Archbishop Charles Balvo, Very Reverend Monsignor Jan Thomas Limchua, Desk Officer in the Secretariat of State and Very Reverend Monsignor Alfred Rayan Dsouza, First Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature.

The gathering also brought together friends from the various Eastern Catholic Churches in Australia and the Assyrian and Coptic Orthodox Churches.

In my welcoming note to Archbishop Gallagher, Bishop Tarabay reaffirmed the commitment of our Maronite Church to the calling of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, to be a hope-filled, healing, and welcoming Church saying, “We remain steadfast in seeking holiness, guided by the spiritual leadership of His Holiness Pope Francis, and strengthened by the faith of our ancestors and the intercession of our saints.”

Bishop Tarabay also requested Archbishop Gallagher conveys our Eparchy’s deep love and prayers to His Holiness Pope Francis asking him to keep our communities and our homeland in his prayers.

In his address, Archbishop Gallagher congratulated Bishop Tarabay and the Maronite Eparchy of Australia on the celebration of the Golden Jubilee Year and expressed his delighted at being able to return to Beit Maroun. He also emphasised the importance of ongoing ecumenical gatherings to continue, as they are a sign of the work of God’s spirit in our Churches.