CV NEWS FEED // Discussing topics including humanitarian crises in the region, the Vatican Secretary of State on Jan. 13 met with Pontifical Representatives to the States of Palestine, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the Republics of Iraq and Lebanon, among other Middle Eastern countries.
“Hope was expressed that there would soon be a cessation of hostilities on all fronts and that the Middle East could be a land of peace, where Christians remain an essential element of fraternal coexistence among the various religions and of the progress of the respective nations,” the Vatican Press Office reported.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin held the meeting in Amman, the capital of Jordan. The Pontifical Representative to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was among those attending the meeting.
Those present discussed crises affecting the region, as well as the individual political and ecclesial conditions in every country, according to the Press Office.
According to the Press Office, they also discussed “the serious humanitarian situation in which the people most affected by the conflicts find themselves, and the need for solidarity on the part of the international community.”
The Pontifical Representatives to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Sultanate of Oman, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Republic of Yemen were also present, the Press Office noted.
Last week, religious persecution expert and president of International Christian Concern Jeff King warned that Christians in Syria are at significant safety risk following the collapse of the al-Assad regime in December 2023. The leader of the coalition that overthrew the regime, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani – also known as Ahmed al-Sharaa — recently expressed assurances to Christian leaders that the new Syria will be inclusive, although King warned that this is not the reality for Christians, who are facing a number of threats in the country.
