Melkite, Maronite Catholic synods address Middle East violence

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BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE , IN: WORLD
Iraqi and Syrian Christians march during a Palm Sunday procession in Beirut, Lebanon, March 29. Synods of Melkite Catholic and Maronite Catholic bishops in Lebanon called on the world’s governments to help resolve the conflicts in the region so that Christians can remain in place. (CNS photo/Wael Hamzeh, EPA)
BEIRUT (CNS) — Meeting for their respective annual synods in Lebanon, Maronite Catholic and Melkite Catholic bishops called for an end to wars in the region and for the election of a president in Lebanon.

Melkite Catholic Patriarch Gregoire III Laham, who was born in Syria, presided over the Melkite synod June 15-19 at the patriarchal summer residence in Ain-Traz, Lebanon. He pointed to “the miseries and dangers that destroy our people and cause paralysis of Christian spirituality.”

“We appeal to all: Stop the war. The war in Syria and the war against Syria is a real genocide,” Patriarch Laham said in the final statement. “This is a third world war whose price is largely paid by the Syrian people in all its components and … confessions.”

“We call, loud and clear — upon neighboring states, Arab countries, the European Union, the USA, Russia, China, Latin America and all world states — begging them to work seriously to put an end to this war,” he said.

“We call, loud and clear — upon neighboring states, Arab countries, the European Union, the USA, Russia, China, Latin America and all world states — begging them to work seriously to put an end to this war,” he said.

In his opening address, the patriarch cited Pope Francis’ Dec. 21 letter to Middle East Christians, whom the pope described as serving “as a roadmap for us Christians to remain united and remain united, too, as Christians and Muslims.”

The Melkite patriarch expressed his concern about the “bleeding” caused by Christian emigration.