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_WORLD WATCH______________________________
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Encouragement for Syrian Catholics
Recognizes problems of Christians in the Middle East
Pope John Paul II offered words of encouragement for the Christians of the Middle East on November 23, as he received a group of 200 pilgrims from the Syrian Catholic Church.
The Holy Father recognized the “severe trials” that are now facing the Christians of the Middle East, adding that the Christian community there had faced similar difficulties in the past. But he urged them, “Tell all your Christian brothers in your dioceses that I am always close to them in my prayers, and I encourage them.”
The Syrian Catholic pilgrims were led by Patriarch Ignace Moussa I Daoud of Antioch. (Shortly after the meeting, the Pope announced the appointment of the Syrian Patriarch to an important office in the Roman Curia. For more complete coverage of that development, see the story on page 32.) The Syrian Catholic Church numbers about 130,000 faithful, most of them living in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. The Eastern-rite Church has its headquarters in Lebanon, where the patriarchate is centered.
Back to Catholic World Report January 2001 Table of Contents