22 January 2025

Press Release of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

The Holy Father Francis has designated Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, to travel to Syria to take his embrace and his blessing to the country’s Catholics.

It is the Holy Father’s intention that, in the current condition in which Syria finds itself, they may feel the affection and support of the entire Catholic Church and, in particular, of the bishop of Rome, who never ceases to pray for them. Belonging to ancient Churches, glorious for their faith in Christ, Christians have offered a fundamental contribution to the development of the culture and society of the area ever since the first centuries of their existence, in which they experienced an extraordinary development of faith, science and economics. They now ask to be able to continue to bring their contribution to a Syria that is resisting the risks of sectarianism and centrifugal forces, and promotes concordant unity in diversity.

Pope Francis, in the hope that the limitations that have led Syrians to destitution and have encouraged dramatic emigration may finally be removed, invites the reconstruction of a peaceful country, whose prosperity is assured by all its members, with respect for freedom, the dignity of the human person, and variety, starting with the drafting of a new Constitution. He assures that the Catholic Church will make every effort to help, in every possible way, the rebirth of noble Syria.

Cardinal Gugerotti, who will be accompanied by the Secretary of the Dicastery, Archbishop Michel Jalakh, of the Antonian Maronite order, and his personal secretary, Fr. Emanuel Sabadakh, Franciscan minor, will visit the country from 24 to 29 January. With the Apostolic Nuncio, His Eminence Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Prefect will visit the bishops, priests, men and women religious and Catholic faithful of all the respective Cathedrals: Greek-Melkite (meeting with the Patriarch, His Beatitude Youssef Absi, and participating in the Divine Liturgy), Maronite, Chaldean, Syriac, Armenian and Latin, joining in prayer with each one of them. In Damascus and Aleppo, he will meet with the leaders, priests, religious and laypeople of the communities and with bodies promoting the charity of the local Churches. He will take part in the Plenary Assembly of Catholic Bishops, who will meet in the city of Homs.

In visiting the Patriarchs of the Orthodox Churches – His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syriac-Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East, His Beatitude John X, Greek-Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, and other bishops of the Orthodox Churches, including the prelates of the Armenian Apostolic Church – Cardinal Gugerotti will convey Pope Francis’ greeting, assuring them that he considers Christian unity to be an urgent imperative in the present situation, and that the Catholic Church is ready for any collaboration.

On 25 January, Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul and final day of the octavary of prayer for Christian unity, Cardinal Gugerotti will preside over the Eucharist at the Memorial of Saint Paul, built at the place traditionally attributed to the event that marked the life of the Apostle of the Gentiles. He will also venerate the relics of the Holy Martyrs of Damascus in the Latin Church and in the Maronite Cathedral in Bab Touma.

Both on the outward journey and at the conclusion of the trip, the Cardinal Prefect will visit the local Apostolic Nunciature in Beirut.