Fate of Syrian Orthodox Bishops uncertain

(Vatican Radio) The whereabouts of two Orthodox Bishops, kidnapped on Monday, is still unknown. News agencies had reported on Tuesday evening that Greek Orthodox Archbishop Paul Yazigi and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim had been released, but subsequent reports indicate that that is not the case.

On Tuesday the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, released a statement from the Vatican. Pope Francis, he said, is following the events in Syria closely, and “and he is praying for the health and the liberation of the two kidnapped bishops.” Father Lombardi said Pope Francis is also praying that “with the support and prayers of all, the Syrian people may finally see tangible responses to the humanitarian drama and real hopes of peace and reconciliation rise on the horizon.”

In a joint statement, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Of Antioch and all the East and the Syriac Orthodox Pariarchate of Antioch and all the East say they “deeply regret what happened as we regret all similar acts targeting civilians,” regardless of their affiliation.

They say “Christians living here are an essential part” of the lands of the Middle East. Christians “suffer the pain every person suffers, work as messengers of peace to lift injustice . . . They follow the teaching of the Gospel telling them that love is the basis of human relations.” The statement deplores the violence that is afflicting region, and calls on the kidnappers to “to respect the life of the two kidnapped brothers.” It urges everyone to work “to put an end to all the acts that create confessional and sectarian schisms” in the nation.

The Patriarchates, in their joint statement, call on the international community to help end the violence in Syria: “In this painful situation, we can but call the whole world to try to put an end to the Syrian crisis. . . . Settling accounts should not happen at the expense of the human beings who live here.”

Finally, they address the kidnappers directly, saying “those whom they kidnapped are messengers of peace in this world. Their religious, social and national work witnesses for them. We call them to deal with this painful accident away from any tension that serves only the enemies of this country.”

The statement was signed by Patriarch John X Yazigi Patriarch & Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.