Christian Patriarchs discuss Easter blessings, crises, and Church affairs

BETH KERKE, Lebanon / ANKAWA, Iraq — On the occasion of Easter, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan visited Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mor Beshara Boutros al-Rai at the Maronite Patriarchal Chair in Beth Kerke (Bkerke), Lebanon.

During the meeting, the patriarchs exchanged congratulations and blessings on the occasion of Easter. They expressed hope that the holy period would bring goodness, health, and wellness to all people and that the crises and hardships experienced by the countries of the Middle East would end. They also wished each other success in their spiritual service for the benefit of the Churches of the East.

Patriarch al-Rai and Patriarch Younan also discussed the current situation and overlapping crises in Lebanon and their effects on the Lebanese people in general and Christians in particular. They discussed the issue of the presidential vacuum in more depth and the need to quickly elect a president for the republic to save the country from total collapse.

The patriarchs also discussed common Church affairs, reviewing the most important activities they would undertake during the coming period. This included their participation next week in the conference that the Synod of Eastern Churches would organize in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel met with Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil Mar Bashar Matti Warda at the Chaldean Archbishopric in Ankawa.

During the meeting, they exchanged Easter congratulations and reviewed the situation of Iraqi Christians in light of the crises and difficulties the country was going through. They also discussed what the Church was doing to support the believers and increase their consolidation in the land of their ancestors.