Jordan’s Catholics march in silence for release of Syrian Orthodox bishops
Amman (AsiaNews)
- With a silent candlelight vigil bishops and leaders of Christian churches in
Jordan and lay Catholics have condemned the kidnapping of Archbishop. Yohanna Ibrahim and Msgr. Boulos
Yaziji, exactly one month ago and remembered Fr. Michel Kayyal (Armenian Catholic)
and Fr. Maher
Mahfouz (Greek-orthodox), the two priests kidnapped in February last.
In
a statement, the religious leaders affirm that "the permanence of the two
prelates in the hands of their kidnappers is unacceptable not only because it
is an attack on their lives, but especially for the shock and pain caused among
the faithful under their care".
For
the representatives of the Jordanian Churches both prelates are "persons
of high intellectual ability who love their country and who carry out their
spiritual mission with a spirit of moderation." These
two bishops did not limit themselves to the work within their diocese, but have
also written books where believers and intellectuals have found spiritual
nourishment and stimulus for thought. "Their
permanence in the hands of their kidnappers - continues the statement - also halts
the activity of two of the most important Christian Arab personalities of our
time."
For
the bishops, the march is a message of solidarity with the Greek-orthodox Patriarchate
of Antioch of the, represented by Patriarch Yohanna X Yazij, and the Syrian
Orthodox Church, represented by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, expressed in
the invitation to prayer for these two Sister
Churches and for Churches worldwide not to cease in their advocacy and prayers
for the release of the two bishops. (S.C.)
.png)
