Syriac Catholic Patriarch Younan receives global Christian and human rights leader Bishop Prof. Thomas Schirrmacher to strengthen Christian presence in Middle East

BEIRUT — In a bid to strengthen the Christian presence in the Middle East and promote human rights and human dignity, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mar Ignatius Youssef III Younan welcomed Bishop Prof. Thomas Schirrmacher, former Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and President of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), at the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon.

Bishop Schirrmacher was accompanied by a delegation from the One Voice Foundation, along with Prof. Lara Wakim, National Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Faith for Earth Initiative. The meeting was also attended by Monsignor Habib Murad, Fr. Karim Kalash, lawyer Mai Bulos, and Diyaa Naasani.

Discussions covered the Syriac presence in Lebanon, the history and global reach of the Syriac Catholic Church, and an overview of the International Society for Human Rights’ major initiatives. The talks also addressed the current situation in Lebanon and the wider Middle East, the challenges confronting the Christian faith and Church, and the essential role of dialogue in achieving lasting peace in the region.

The meeting underscored a shared commitment to interfaith cooperation, the defense of human rights, and the preservation of Christian heritage in the Middle East.