Cardinal Gugerotti To Visit Syria To Convey Pope's Closeness To The Nation

Damascus, Syria, January 23, 2025: Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, will be visiting Syria from January 24 to 29 on a mission by Pope Francis to express solidarity with the nation's Catholics. The Cardinal’s visit was announced in a statement issued by the Vatican Dicastery, which explained that "the Holy Father’s intention is that, in the current situation of Syria, the nation's Catholics may feel the affection and support of the entire Catholic Church, and in particular of the Bishop of Rome, who continues to pray for them."

Father Emanuel Sabadakh, Cardinal Gugerotti's personal secretary, and Archbishop Michel Jalakh, the Vatican Dicastery’s Secretary, will accompany Cardinal Gugerotti on his journey to Syria.

During his visit, Cardinal Gugerotti will engage with Catholic bishops, clergy, and laity in Damascus and Aleppo. He will also be celebrating Mass and praying at the Greek-Melkite, Maronite, Chaldean, Syrian, Armenian, and Latin cathedrals in these two cities. 

Cardinal Gugerotti will also be travelling to the city of Homs to participate in the Plenary Assembly of Catholic Bishops in Homs. He will also be meeting with the leaders of Orthodox Churches there, including His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East, and His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

According to the Vatican Dicastrey’s statement, Cardinal Gugerotti will convey Pope Francis' greetings to the Patriarchs and will emphasize that, "in the present circumstances, Christian unity is an essential imperative" and that "the Catholic Church is ready for full cooperation."

On January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Cardinal Gugerotti will preside over a Mass at the Memorial of St. Paul in Damascus and also venerate the relics of the Holy Martyrs of Damascus in the Latin church and the Maronite Cathedral in Bab Touma.

The cardinal’s visit will conclude with a stop in Beirut, Lebanon, where he will be staying at the local Apostolic Nunciature.

Courtesy: Vatican News