Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East met with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on September 14, with discussions focusing on the situation of Christians in the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Lebanon.
During the private meeting, the two Church leaders also discussed the historic relationship between the Orthodox Church of Antioch and the Roman Catholic Church, based on mutual respect.
Patriarch John briefed Pope Leo on developments across the region, stressing that Christians are an integral part of Syrian society and “do not beg anyone for citizenship.”
He called for cooperation among all Syrians to strengthen civil peace and coexistence, rejecting approaches based on majority-minority divisions and advocating equal citizenship for all.
Turning to Lebanon, Patriarch John called for an end to the attacks targeting southern Lebanon and stressed the need for Lebanese unity in addressing the social consequences of the ongoing escalation. He also emphasized dialogue among the country’s different communities in confronting the challenges facing Lebanon.
The Patriarch highlighted the role the Holy See can play in promoting stability in Syria, Lebanon and the wider Middle East.
Abducted Metropolitans of Aleppo discussed
The two Church leaders also discussed the case of the abducted Metropolitans of Aleppo, Paul Yazigi and Youhanna Ibrahim, stressing the need to resolve a case that has remained unanswered for more than a decade.
Pope Leo, for his part, praised the historic and continuing role of the Church of Antioch in the Middle East and beyond. He affirmed the Holy See’s commitment to initiatives aimed at promoting the well-being and stability of the region.
The Pope also highlighted the Church of Antioch’s historic role in building bridges of dialogue between East and West and fostering engagement with the Arab and Muslim world.
