Old News - Still Relevant
Pope on Good Terms with Leaders in Syria
Pope's
Mass to Draw 40,000
Scott Bobb
Damascus
05 May 2001,
Pope John Paul ended his first day in Syria with a meeting aimed at healing a 1,000-year-old rift with eastern Christian churches.
The Pope Saturday evening met with leaders of the Greek and Syrian Orthodox and Catholic churches in Syria and pledged to work for union with the Vatican. Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius the Fourth spoke of past injustices by western Christians against the Orthodox.
But the Greek Orthodox patriarch prayed for a renewed dialogue, that would be sincere, deep and loving. The Pontiff responded in French with a similar call.
The Pope said he was praying for the peaceful unification of the churches as one flock under a single shepherd. He indicated he hoped one day the churches would celebrate Easter together.
The Pope was warmly welcomed to Syria Saturday morning by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the country's political, religious and tribal leaders.
President al-Assad praised the Pontiff for his efforts on behalf of the oppressed and, through an interpreter, criticized the recent violence in the region.
"So we see our brothers in Palestine being killed and tortured. We see that justice is being violated, lands are being occupied in Lebanon, the Golan and Palestine," he said.
President al-Assad called for a halt to the killing, for the return of land seized from the Arabs and for the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
The Pope responded, lamenting that calls for peace in the region have been dashed in waves of violence and calling for a new attitude among Christians, Muslims and Jews. "Real peace can only be achieved if there is a new attitude of understanding between the followers of the three Abrahamic religions," he said.
The Pope said it is time to return to the principles of international legality, halt the acquisition of territory by force and promote the right of self-determination. In this regard, he said among the most important principles are the respect for U.N. resolutions and the Geneva Convention on human rights.
The Pontiff is to meet with Muslim leaders Sunday evening at the ancient Omayyad Mosque, the first such visit by a Pope in history.
Scott
Bobb
Damascus
05 May 2001,VOA