Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan warns of Christians massive migration for future of church in Syria

HOLEB, Syria — The Council of Heads of Catholic Churches in Syria held a meeting at the headquarters of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Holeb (Aleppo) in Al-Aziziya neighborhood in Syria.

The meeting was attended by Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Melkite Catholic Patriarch Mor Youssef al-Absi, Apostolic Nuncio to Syri Cardinal Mario Zenari, in addition to archbishops of the Catholic churches in Syria.

The Patriarch addressed the issue of migration, which is the biggest challenge facing the church and believers today.

“It is true that migration has a positive impact in getting to know and experience the cultures of other countries. However, today, migration is carried out in a collective way that creates a vacuum in our churches, ” said the Patriarch, stressing the youth migration and its impact on the church in general.

The Patriarch raised the issue of unifying the celebration of Resurrection Day in churches of Syria, calling on the Council to discuss this issue.

He also commended the church work in Syria in terms of supporting the faithful in these dire conditions. The Patriarch then answered the questions of archbishops regarding the Romanian Synod of archbishops.

This meeting, which will continue in consecutive sessions until next Saturday, the attendees will discuss church affairs about the spiritual and pastoral services that the Church performs for believers amid the current difficult circumstances.