FIRST POPE TO VISIT SYRIA, JOHN PAUL PRESIDES ECUMENICAL SERVICE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 5, 2001 (VIS) - After an exuberant welcome ceremony this afternoon at the international airport of Damascus, Pope John Paul, the first pontiff ever to visit Syria, went to the apostolic nunciature in the capital. In mid-afternoon he paid a courtesy call on the president of the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar Al-Asaad, who assumed the presidency shortly after the death of his father, Hafez Al-Asaad, on June 10, 2000.

Following the nearly hour-long visit, the Holy Father left for a 7 p.m. ecumenical encounter and Liturgy of the Word at Damascus' Greek-Orthodox Cathedral. Originally built in the second century, and known as 'Al-Mriamiyah' (the Marian One, in Arabic), the current cathedral is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Having been sacked, burned and undergone an earthquake over the centuries, the cathedral has been rebuilt many times. It has a capacity for 600 people.

Taking part in this evening's encounter and liturgy with John Paul II were the Catholic patriarchs and bishops of Syria, the cardinals and bishops of the papal entourage, Greek-Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Ignace I Hazim, Syro-Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, and representatives of other Churches and non-Catholic ecclesial communities of Syria.

Addressing the assembly in French, the Pope remarked that, in early centuries "the Church in Syria was quick to show an extraordinary flourishing of Christian life. With good reason the Council of Nicea recognized the primacy of Antioch over the metropolitan Churches of the region. ... May God be praised for the witness and the influence of the ancient patriarchate of Antioch!

"Unfortunately," he said, "the unity of the illustrious patriarchate of Antioch was lost through the centuries, and we must hope that the different patriarchates existing now will once again find the path that leads to full communion."

The Pope spoke of "the process of ecumenical rapprochement that has begun between the Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic patriarchates," saying "I thank the Lord for this with all my heart." Urging all involved to pursue this process, John Paul II reaffirmed his "desire that the Mixed International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches may soon be able to continue its work in the most appropriate way. The more this dialogue touches upon central questions, the more demanding it will become. This is no cause for surprise, but still less an excuse for lethargy."

He also highlighted "the deepening of fraternal relations between the Syrian Orthodox patriarchate and the Syrian Catholic patriarchate," again thanking all those involved in pursuing ecumenical dialogue.

"In the course of time," the Holy Father went on, "and especially at the start of the 20th century, Armenian, Chaldean and Assyrian communities, forced by violence to leave their homelands, came to the Christian quarters of Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and other parts of the region. In Syria they found refuge, a place of security and peace. I give the Lord thanks for this hospitality offered by the Syrian people."

"Just a few weeks ago," said John Paul II, "we had the great joy of being able to celebrate the feast of Easter on the same day. For me this happy coincidence in the year 2001 was a pressing invitation of Providence, addressed to all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities, to return without delay to a common celebration of the Paschal Feast, the feast of all feasts, the central mystery of our faith. ... Yet this process seems more difficult than anticipated. Is it perhaps necessary to envisage intermediate or gradual stages. in order to prepare minds and hearts for the implementation of an arrangement acceptable to all Christians of East and West?"

"A few weeks from now, we shall celebrate together the feast of Pentecost," he concluded. "Let us implore the Spirit to make us grow in holiness, for there is no lasting unity which is not based upon humility, conversion and pardon, and therefore upon sacrifice."

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