Catholic Bishops in Syria Asks for Prayers for a Peaceful Transition Following President Assad's Downfall

Former Syrian President Bashar Assad has fled the country due to an offensive by rebel groups.
Assad and his family are now in Moscow and have been granted asylum there, according to state media in Russia.
Agenzia Fides reports that - Prayers and requests for "this phase of transition in Syria may be safe and peaceful" were the requests made by Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joussif III Younan (pictured above) during the Mass he presided over on Sunday 8 December at the Shrine of Saints Behnam and Sarah in Lebanon.

In his homily, the Patriarch referred to "this wave of revolution against the government and the regime, which has been going on for many years" and which has turned into "a terrible war, whose security and economic impacts have been terrible for everyone".

Patriarch Younan, who is from Lebanon, stressed that in recent days he has been in contact with the bishops of Aleppo, Homs, Damascus and Qamishli to obtain information and to assure them of his closeness "in prayer and in asking for the peace that we all need."
The Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, led by Patriarch Mor Ignatios Aphrem II, also issued a statement asking for the gift of "divine wisdom" to find "inspiration, strength and steadfastness in love for the homeland" and reaffirming the Church's mission to "spread the values of justice, peace and harmony among all citizens" while respecting Syria's cultural identity and long history.

In the uncertain period that began after Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, the official statements of the churches express caution in assessing the development of events, recalling the "reassuring" public statements of the Islamist-led groups that played a key role in the collapse of the Syrian regime.

"We call on everyone," says the communiqué of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, "to play their national role in preserving public and private property and to avoid the use of weapons and the exercise of violence against others." The bishops of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate also call for "the equality of all social groups and all Syrian citizens, regardless of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation, on the basis of a citizenship that must guarantee the dignity of every citizen."

According to the news portal "SiriacPress", in the cities of Qhamishli and Hassakè in northeastern Syria, dozens of activists from Christian-led political parties took to the streets to celebrate the end of the Assad regime, chanting slogans in support of a hoped-for "new beginning" for the Syrian nation. (GV) (Source: Agenzia Fides, 9/12/2024)