Archbishop Jean-Abdo Arbach. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need
ACI Prensa Staff, Mar 14, 2025 / 15:10 pm (CNA).
TheGreek-CatholicarchbishopofHoms,Jean-AbdoArbach,condemnedthemassacresofciviliansthatoccurredinSyrialastweekend—whichleftatleast1,000dead—andurgedChristianstomaintainhopeforanendtotheviolenceandareturntounityandreconciliation.
ArbachemphasizedtheimportanceoftheChristiancommunityforthecountry’sfuture,tellingthepontificalfoundationAidtotheChurchinNeed(ACN)that“withoutChristians,therecanbenofutureforSyria”andurgedthefaithfultoremainsteadfastdespitethetryingcircumstances.
“ChristiansaretherootsofSyriaandSyriaisthecradleofChristianity.InDamascuswecanstillfindtheplaceswhereSt.PaulconvertedtoChristianityinthefirstcentury.Westillhavefirst-centurychurchesandmonasteries,andwehavekeptAramaic,thelanguageJesusspoke,alive,”theprelateemphasized.
Furthermore,thearchbishopurgedthoseresponsibletostopthehostilities:“Wedonotwantmorebloodshed.Wecallforunityandreconciliation.After14ye
