Homs (ST): A prayer for peace in Syria was held in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Umm al-Zinar in Homs, presided over by Bishop Mor Timothy Matta al-Khoury, Metropolitan of Homs, Hama, Tartous and its dependencies for the Syriac Orthodox, in the presence of the Catholic Archbishop of Vienna and member of the College of Cardinals in the Vatican, Cardinal Christophe Schönborn.
After the prayer, Cardinal Schönborn affirmed in a press statement that Syria is a country of history and precious sanctities.
In turn, Archbishop Georges Abu Zakhem, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Homs and its dependencies, pointed out in a statement to news reporter the importance of Cardinal Schönborn’s visit to Syria to see the reality of it, stressing that the Syrians are clinging to their land and are able to reconstruct what the war has destroyed.
For his part, Father Zuhri Khazal, pastor of Umm al-Zinar Church, drew in a similar statement the importance of Cardinal Schönborn’s visit, which is a message abroad that Syria is capable of rising again.
The Cardinal’s visit included a tour of the old city, where he met a number of people. He also visited churches, destroyed homes, and the tomb of Father Frans van Derlocht in the Convent of the Jesuit Fathers in the Bustan al-Diwan neighborhood.
K.Q.
Cardinal Schönborn: Syria is a country of history and sanctities