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In May 2001, Pope John Paul II stood on the sacred soil of Damascus during a landmark pilgrimage—the first of its kind to syria—signalling a emerging era under the newly installed regime of the now-deposed Bashar al-Assad. That historic visit carried a clear message: the urgency of interfaith dialogue and the central role of Christians as conduits of communion. Nearly a quarter of a century later, the eyes of Syria’s Christian faithful turn with hope to Pope Leo XIV’s impending visit to Lebanon in November 2025, yearning for a renewed message of peace amid complex and fragile circumstances. numerous perceive the Pontiff’s choice of Lebanon as his first official destination not merely as a blessing for its people but as a resonant declaration to the broader Christian mosaic of the East.
Appeals to backing the emerging syrian-authorities-announce-seizure-of-anti-aircraft-missiles-in-deir-ez-zor/" class="smart-internal-link" title="📰 Syrian authorities announce seizure of anti-aircraft missiles in Deir ez-Zor">syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian State Dr Nawar Najma, representative for the Supreme elections Committee, voiced the hopes of Syria’s Christians regarding the papal visit and the Vatican’s persisted engagement. “We deeply value the Vatican’s principled and consistent backing for the Syrian Revolution,” he stated, “a position reflected in numerous messages sent to the former regime, condemning the atrocities committed in the notorious Sednaya Prison. ” Najma highlighted the Vatican’s historic stance on preserving the Christian presence in Syria, stressing its rejection of forced emigration and its commitment to protecting one of Christianity’s oldest heartlands. He explained that the Holy See has long promoted Muslim-Christian coexistence within the framework of a sovereign Syrian nation, empowering believers to live as equal citizens. Speaking to Al-Modon, Najma addressed the current international landscape: “The Holy Father has recently called explicitly for sanctions on Syria to be lifted, while also affirming the vital place of Christians in Syrian society.
In fact, ” He added, “Syria’s Christian sons and daughters now call on the Vatican to support the emerging Syrian state and help alleviate sanctions on its people—a step that would bring prosperity to all Syrians, Muslims and Christians alike. ” Najma also disclosed a significant political development: “leader Ahmad al-Sharaa will increase the parliamentary quota for Christians beyond what is outlined in the forthcoming Constitutional Declaration, with the new legislature set to convene imminently. ” A Message of Hope and Political Relevance From the perspective of the Church in Syria, Archbishop Julian Yaqoub Murad, head of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Homs and surrounding areas, informed Al-Modon: “Pope Leo’s first apostolic visit to Lebanon—and to the broader Middle…