Cardinal Christoph Schonborn: Syria is a sacred land

The Cathedral of Saint George for the Syriac Orthodox in Damascus on Saturday held prayers for peace in Syria.

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of Antioch and All East, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, presided over the prayers which were held with the participation of Patriarch Yusuf Absi of Antioch and All East for the Melkite Greek Catholics, Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, the head Archbishop of Vienna and member of the Council of Cardinals at the Vatican, and a number of heads and representatives of the Christian denominations in Damascus.

Speaker of Syria’s People’s Assembly Hammouda Sabbagh, several ministers, Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, and a number of diplomats accredited in Damascus attended the prayers.

In a speech, Patriarch Aphrem II stressed that the Syrian people are still suffering from the impacts of the unfair terrorist war on Syria and from the Western countries’ continuous attempts to control Syria’s independent decision through the unfair economic blockade and illegal sanctions imposed on the Syrians, affecting their livelihood.

He pointed out that the difficult years Syria has experienced have exposed Syria’s friends and enemies, stressing that Cardinal Christoph Schonborn is one of Syria’s friends who has called for ending the war on Syria and has greatly been concerned over the suffering of the Syrian people and refugees.  

On his part, Cardinal Schonborn said that the situation in the region has been the theme of the meetings and talks of the International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN) with the aim of informing the parliamentarians in the countries of the world the truth about the tragedies happening in this region, especially in Syria and Iraq.

“Syria is a sacred land, and whoever visits it comes as a pilgrim. The message that I will convey to my country’s parliament and the parliaments of the world through the Network contains an invitation to work hard as to help Syria overcome the current difficult stage,” Schonborn added.

Hamda Mustafa