As the College of Cardinals prepares to gather in the conclave, the global Church enters a moment of discernment — and of speculation. Behind closed doors, names are floated, alliances weighed, and expectations quietly shaped. Some hope for a return to an Italian pope, others call for a voice from the peripheries. Many, amid the noise, turn to prayer, trusting the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
For Christians in the Middle East, this moment carries particular significance. These ancient communities, rooted in lands marked by instability and loss, have not seen a pope from their region since the seventh century. And yet their presence endures — reduced in number but not in faith; marginalized politically, yet vital to the universal Church.
Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, offered Middle Eastern Christians exceptional attention. Through his pastoral visits, his calls for peace, and his engagement with Muslim and Orthodox leaders, he gave voice to communities too often forgotten. His death leaves a void not only in Rome but also in Baghdad, Beirut, Jerusalem, and beyond.
As the Church prepares to choose his successor, many in the region are asking: Will the next pope understand their wounds, their witness, and their hope?
Here is what some Middle Eastern Christians say they are seeking from the next bishop of Rome.
Lebanese seminarian: ‘Not left or right, but rooted in Christ’
Jason El Akoury, a young seminarian in his fifth year at the Maronite Patriarchal Seminary in Ghazir, Lebanon, serving the Maronite Patriarchal Eparchy of Jounieh, spoke to ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, about his hopes for the next pope. “I pray the next pope will be a living icon of Christ,” he said, “someone whose love for the Lord is so sincere and visible that it draws others to holiness.”
Now in his second year of theology and already ordained a lector, El Akoury reflected on St. Paul’s invitation: “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” and shared his longing for a pontiff whose personal witness invites the world into deeper discipleship.
“I envision a shepherd who combines the charismatic presence of St. John Paul II, the theological depth of Pope Benedict XVI, and the pastoral closeness of Pope Francis. I pray he will be a unifying figure in a divided and lost world, firm in truth yet gentle in mercy, capable of engaging with the questions and concerns of today’s youth.”
He also expressed a deep ecumenical hope.
“I pray he will continue the Church’s commitment to healing the wound of the Great Schism, working toward a renewed koinonia — a true communion — with the Orthodox churches, in response to Christ’s prayer ‘that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you,’” he said.
He continued: “When the world sees us, Christians, loving one another, then we will be known as true disciples of Christ.”
El Akoury cautioned against reducing the conclave to a mere political contest. “Viewing this election through the lens of human categories — traditionalist versus progressive, conservative versus liberal — is foolishness,” he said.
“It’s true that the next pope must respond to the challenges of our time, and this may require specific actions. But extremism, in any direction, has never been the solution. Ultimately, the pope is the fruit of the synergy between the will of the cardinals and the will of God. The better the harmony, the better the pope will be. Rather than worry about what we cannot control, we ought to pray that each cardinal’s heart is open to the voice of the Holy Spirit.”
Like many in Lebanon, he also expressed disappointment that Pope Francis was never able to visit the country. “I see the visit of the pontiff as an encouragement for the people to live their faith and know its beauty especially, especially in nations devastated by war, corruption, or neglect,” he said.
By: Romy Haber \ catholicnewsagency
source link: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/263863/middle-eastern-christians-speak-what-they-want-from-the-next-pope
