Statement of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East

We ask the Vatican to work on lifting the sanctions of the Syrian People

On June 30, 2021, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, met His Holiness Pope Francis at his residence in the Vatican.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Justinos Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary.

During the meeting, His Holiness the Patriarch spoke about the situation of Christians in Syria and about the suffering of the Syrian people due to the sanctions imposed on Syria. He asked from His Holiness Pope Francis to help in lifting the sanctions using the Vatican’s international relations to this end.

His Holiness the Patriarch also requested that the Holy See to continue their efforts to help in the case of the abducted Archbishops of Aleppo Boulos Yaziji and Mor Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim.

Their Holinesses discussed in length the issue of the date of the celebration of Easter …

This statement was originally published on His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II 's Facebook page. Please click here to read the full text.