A Synod of Bishops for the Middle East will be held in October 2010 to address the problems faced by minority Christian communities in the region, Pope Benedict XVI announced today.

Confirmed at a meeting between Benedict and church leaders from the Middle Eastern region, the synod is scheduled to be held from Oct. 10-24 with the theme "The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness: 'The community of believers was of one heart and mind.'" The quotation is a description of the unity of the early church from the Acts of the Apostles.

"During this brotherly meeting, from your speeches will surely emerge the issues that beset you and the orientations toward their proper resolution," said the pope, who assured the Middle Eastern church leaders that he was praying for them and their communities daily.

Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops told L'Osservatore Romano that the synod would include representatives from other Christian churches, and perhaps those from Jewish and Muslim faiths as well.

"We don't know the format yet, but it is clear that one must take into account the entire complex reality of the Middle East," he said. "The synod is not 'against' anyone, but is an open space of dialogue that aims at communion and peace in justice and truth. Certainly we will find the way to hear the voices of the Jewish world and the Muslim world."