VATICAN,(ST)_ Pope Francis of the Vatican renewed his call to resolve the crisis in Syria through dialogue , demanding respect for all monotheistic religions in the region .
AFP quoted Pope Francis as saying upon receiving in the Vatican yesterday , Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for Greek Catholics , Gregory III Laham and his accompanying delegation , “We believe in the power of prayer and reconciliation, and we renew our urgent call to officials to refrain from any acts of violence and find just and lasting solutions through dialogue for a dispute which caused great damage. “
The Pontiff continued , ” I urge , in particular, mutual respect among different religious beliefs in order to ensure a future for all, based on inalienable individual rights , including freedom of belief ,” stressing that he ” does not give up before the idea of a Middle East without Christians .”
Pope Francis has repeatedly stressed the need to find a solution to the crisis in Syria through dialogue . Upon receiving the Russian President Vladimir Putin in a private visit to the Vatican, five days before the Pope expressed ” preference negotiation as a way ” in order to reach a peaceful solution in Syria .
T. Fateh