by Ed Wilkinson
Syrian Catholics have a part to play in re-establishing peace in their homeland, despite the fact that they are a minority. But before any serious attempt is made, foreign troublemakers, who include terrorists and bandits, must leave the country.
That’s the opinion of Patriarch Gregorios III, the Melkite Patriarch of Syria and Lebanon.
His Beatitude was in Brooklyn last week as part of a U.S. tour to raise awareness of what is going on in Syria that he says is being misreported by the media. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio hosted a dinner at his residence, at which the patriarch spoke to a small group of local residents of Middle Eastern descent.
He denied that Syria is involved in a civil war.
“It is really a foreign war in Syria,” said the 84-year-old patriarch. “And it’s being waged against Syria.
“The country, Syria, is one of the most – excuse me if I say it in America – one of the most democratic countries in the whole Arab world. Except, let us say, Lebanon, or Israel.”
He claimed that foreigners have infiltrated the area and are causing all of the trouble.
“The people (in Syria) are happy; they are,” he said. “There is some corruption. The secret service is very strong. Okay, it is a regime, you know. It is a party boss, for 40 years now, but the new president is improving many things … slowly, slowly. And I see a new vision, a new look of the world.”
According to the patriarch, Syrian Christians and Muslims peacefully co-existed and even cooperated and cared for each other.
He explained that America plays a leading role in the region because Europe is following the lead of the U.S. Unfortunately, the American position has been to back the so-called rebels, sending them arms and money, encouraging the turmoil in the region, even though the opposition group includes extreme Islamists factions.
“I am in the United States in order to call upon Obama. We have trust in him! He can change. And I will call upon him to be the peacemaker of the Middle East. This is the real role of America – to be the peacemaker,” said Patriarch Gregorios.
Finding a way to achieve peace in Syria could lead to a roadmap for peace in the entire Middle East, including the Palestine-Israel conflict.
“We have, as Christians, the role to bring trust between Europe, Christian Europe, and the Arabic Islamic world,” he explained. “That is our role. And therefore we are working for the preservation of the Christian presence. You can’t speak about a Christian presence without speaking about and explaining the importance of the role of the Christians for the future of democracy, freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, democracy opening, youth, working together, in spite of our minority – in numbers, minority let us say – we have this big role.
“This is what we say to our people. You have to be powerful in order to fulfill your role to be salt, to be light and to be leaven in this society. Stay there! Without you, there is no testimony that Jesus was there.
“Jesus was born in Palestine, in the Holy Land, but Christianity was born in Syria. In order to preserve this reality, this history and this role, we have to help – and also Europe, America – to help Christians to stay there. Not only by money! We need money, but let me tell you, we need more peace. And then, give me peace, I can guarantee a Christian, powerful presence in the Middle East.”
In New York, Patriarch Gregorios met with U.N. officials, including Secretary General Kofi Annan. The patriarch’s visit was sponsored by the International Catholic Migration Commission.
