Gregorios III:  “The foundations of hope for a real Arab Spring depend on inter-Muslim and Muslim-Christian unity.”

Rounding off his tour of Episcopal Conferences and Government Offices with the Vatican and Italy, H. B. Gregorios III, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem was received by Pope Benedict XVI for half an hour on Thursday 15 March 2012. The meeting, which took place in the Holy Father’s office, focused on matters of ecclesial concern amid the crises of the Middle East and their consequences both from a regional and international perspective.

During the meeting, H. B. Gregorios III emphasised the need of dialogue for peace in Syria and in the Middle East, since only dialogue guarantees coexistence and knowing how to live together in this rapidly changing and very challenging region.

 The Patriarch underlined that the role of Christians is to be peace-makers and bridge-builders for genuine dialogue among the Arab world’s sons and daughters for a better future.

 Rabweh, 15 March 2012