Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East met Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City.
The private meeting between the Patriarch of Antioch and Pope Francis touched upon the day of prayer for Lebanon to be held tomorrow in the Vatican, at the invitation of His Holiness to all the heads of Christian communities in Lebanon. The meeting also touched on the Christian situation in the Middle East in all its aspects.
The Patriarch of Antioch expressed to Pope Francis the Antiochian point of view: tolerance, refusing introversion and exclusion, and building bridges of inclusion to all components.
Patriarch John X commended the role entrusted to the Holy See to save Lebanon by exerting pressure for establishing a Lebanese government and by supporting the combined proposals and consensus to determine the fate of one united Lebanon in coexistence and citizenship.
The Patriarch of Antioch also presented the situation in Syria, noting the necessity of lifting sanctions on Syria and Lebanon, as they affect the citizen’s livelihood.
The meeting also touched on the issue of the kidnapped bishops of Aleppo, Paul Yazigi, and Yohanna Ibrahim, as it is necessary to reach the desired end of this file, which is still disregarded by the international community.
For his part, Pope Francis appraised the pioneering role of the Church of Antioch in the region and affirmed the continuous endeavor of the Holy See towards all that is for the good of Lebanon and the region.
The Antiochian delegation which accompanied the Patriarch of Antioch was formed of Metropolitan Silouan Moussa (of Mount Lebanon) and Archimandrite Parthenios Al-Latti.
Source: Patriarchate of Antioch
