Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Cairo, SANA –Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Gregorios III Laham prayed that peace, security and stability may prevail once again in Syria, where an internationally-schemed terrorist war is still raging since 2011.
Laham’s prayers came during a Christmas Eve mass held Wednesday at the Greek-Melkite Catholic Cathedral of the Resurrection in El Daher district in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
Presiding over the mass, Patriarch Laham asked that may God bestow strength and firm will upon the leadership and people of Syria to be able to achieve victory.
He highlighted the importance of consolidating the values of amity, peace and reconciliation as means to confront the phenomena of extremism, terrorism and violence facing the Middle East region.
The Patriarch made a particular reference to Syria and Iraq, which have been ravaged by terrorism visited upon them by regional and international sides.
“Our Arab world needs, under these critical circumstances, sincere and honest attitudes for rapprochement,” said the Patriarch, adding that “citizenship has to be the basis for keeping the people unified and fortifying the homeland.”
He hailed Pope Francis’s call for all Christians of the East and all peoples of the Middle East region to adhere to their countries and stick to their home lands.
The mass was attended by head of the Syrian consular mission to Egypt Riyad Sneih.
Haifa Said
