Patriarch Kirill in the Middle East: no to Christianophobia; yes to peaceful political change
by Nina Achmatova
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church invites political leaders to listen to the needs of the population. The concern for Christians in Egypt, Libya and Iraq. The three day visit to Syria and Lebanon ended yesterday.
Moscow (AsiaNews) - A call to respect the Christian minorities in the new Middle East redesigned by the Arab Spring and an invitation to Arab leaders to listen to the needs of their populations. This was the focus of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia’s "peace mission" to the Middle East. Patriarch Kirill visited Syria and Lebanon between 12 and 15 November meeting with the heads of state and representatives of local religious communities.
In Beirut, in a meeting with President Michel Suleiman, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church discussed the delicate situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to prevent new waves of Christianophobia, while achieving the necessary political changes "peacefully". "We are very concerned about the position of Christians in Egypt, Libya and Iraq - said the Patriarch - while at the same time we see a radical increase of Christianophobia in other countries."
The religious leader then reiterated that the Kremlin shares the same position regarding political developments in the region: changes are needed, but must occur in a peaceful manner, based on dialogue, without outside interference, and taking into account the minorities such as Christians.
For his part, Suleiman has called for an end to violence in Arab countries and democratic reforms in respect of all community citizens.
In Damascus, where he met, among others, President Bashar al-Assad, Kirill called for the "promotion of dialogue", to put an end to eight months of anti-government protests in the promptly repressed in blood.
The visit to Syria and Lebanon comes amid the growing apprehension of the Patriarchate of Moscow - shared by the Vatican – regarding the situation of Christian minorities in the region, where social and political instability is on the rise, but also serves as a background to initiatives by Kremlin itself as a privileged intermediary in the Middle Eastern chessboard.
In Beirut, in a meeting with President Michel Suleiman, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church discussed the delicate situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to prevent new waves of Christianophobia, while achieving the necessary political changes "peacefully". "We are very concerned about the position of Christians in Egypt, Libya and Iraq - said the Patriarch - while at the same time we see a radical increase of Christianophobia in other countries."
The religious leader then reiterated that the Kremlin shares the same position regarding political developments in the region: changes are needed, but must occur in a peaceful manner, based on dialogue, without outside interference, and taking into account the minorities such as Christians.
For his part, Suleiman has called for an end to violence in Arab countries and democratic reforms in respect of all community citizens.
In Damascus, where he met, among others, President Bashar al-Assad, Kirill called for the "promotion of dialogue", to put an end to eight months of anti-government protests in the promptly repressed in blood.
The visit to Syria and Lebanon comes amid the growing apprehension of the Patriarchate of Moscow - shared by the Vatican – regarding the situation of Christian minorities in the region, where social and political instability is on the rise, but also serves as a background to initiatives by Kremlin itself as a privileged intermediary in the Middle Eastern chessboard.
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