GREETINGS TO SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, SEP 22, 1999 (VIS) - Among his multi-lingual greetings to pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square for today's general audience, the Pope welcomed "with affection the group of faithful from the Syrian Orthodox church, led by their bishop Mar Gregoris Yohanna Ibrahim.

"Dear friends, may your stay confirm you in joy and in the strength of faith in Jesus Christ! May the Virgin Mary, Theotokos, protect you and watch over you on all of your paths. I would like to take advantage of this occasion to wish the Syrian Orthodox Church a happy celebration of the eighth centenary of the death of Patriarch Mar Michel the Great, and I ask you to convey my fraternal greetings to His Holiness Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka Iwas."

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