The old and the new

This weekend, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. This most important figure in our sacred history takes us back to the city of Antioch, where the first believers were referred to as Christians for the first time in history.

Coincidence or not, this week also saw the election of the new Patriarch of Antioch for Syrian Catholics, His Beatitude Ignace Youssif III Younan.

• Watch the video of Pope Benedict XVI's audience with the new Patriarch

This is one of the rare moments when the Church demonstrates the unity that exists between the Eastern and the Western branches that make up its followers. At the end of the annual observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, it is also apropos that through this example, we should all be called to reflect on our call to work toward establishing peace with others through the relationships we forge.