Following the recent developments in the political situation in Lebanon, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II and His Beatitude Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan visited the political leaders in Lebanon to demand the establishment of a new parliamentary seat, one for the Syriac Orthodox and one for the Syriac Catholic.
The two patriarchates jointly issued the following statement:
Statement issued by the Syriac Orthodox and the Syriac Catholic Patriarchates.
The Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Aphrem II and Syriac Catholic Patriarch Younan visit the political leaders and heads of parliamentarian blocs:
We do not accept to be classified as ‘minorities’ and we demand to have new parliament seats one for the Syriac Orthodox and one for the Syriac Catholic.
After the Syriac Orthodox and Syriac Catholic Churches agreed on the urgency of removing the classification ‘minorities’ from our churches, the two patriarchs visited political leaders in Lebanon to demand the establishment of two parliament seats: one for the Syriac Catholic and one for the Syriac Orthodox.
His Holiness Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II and His Beatitude Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan headed a delegation from both churches and visited: Mr. Mohammad Raad, Head of the Loyalty to Resistance Bloc, General Michel Aoun, Head of the Change and Reform Bloc, MP Sami Gemayel, Head of Al-Kataeb Party, Dr. Samir Geagea, Head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Head of Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri.
Each showed support and eagerness to realize this demand.
The two patriarchs had visited Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai to inform him of their demand. He gave his full and absolute support for this cause.
The two patriarchs will also visit PM Tamam Salam, and Head of Al-Marada MP Sleiman Frangieh.
Source: Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch
