“The tragedies of recent months, which, unfortunately, oblige us to turn our eyes to Eastern Europe, should not forget what has been happening in your country for twelve years now: thousands of dead and wounded, millions of internal and external refugees, the impossibility of starting with the necessary reconstruction, I happened to meet and hear the story of a Syrian youth who came here more than once, and the tragedy that he carried in himself when he lived and was a witness touched me, but his worldview, “which was devoid of hope, could not dream of the future of his land “We cannot let the last spark of hope disappear from the eyes and hearts of young people and families.” those who hold positions of responsibility within the country or in the international community so that a just and equitable solution to the tragedy of Syria is reached.”

During a meeting with members of the Synod of Bishops of the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Church at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, he pointed out that “you are invited to ask yourself how you, as a Church, present your heroic and magnanimous testimony, but it always needs the light of God in order to be cleansed and renewed, and you, the Synod, thanks to those qualities that were recognized for you by the patriarchal Church, and therefore it is necessary to ask yourself about the Synodal way of your existence and your work, as you asked the Church.

“You are right to be concerned about the survival of Christians in the Middle East, which I fully share with you, and, on the other hand, the presence of the Patriarchal Church of the Melkite Catholic Church has had a global dimension for decades: There are dioceses in Australia and Oceania, in the United States and Canada,” the Pope emphasized, in Venezuela and Argentina, to name but a few, as well as many believers in Europe, although they are not yet able to meet in their ecclesiastical dioceses.

He continued, “I urge you to exercise your authority with great wisdom. I know that some Eastern Churches have begun to think about the role and presence of honorary bishops, especially those over eighty, which is a fixed number in some Synods, and another chapter regarding the election of bishops, and whom I ask you: always think carefully about this and turn to the Holy Spirit to enlighten you, prepare material and information in advance and adequately on various candidates and go beyond the logic of partisanship and balance between orders, according to his blood, far from divisions and murmurs, which are nothing more than a stumbling block for the little ones and scatter the flock entrusted to you.”