Pope’s condolence at the death of Patriarch of Syrian Orthodox Church

March 24, 2014 - Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his sorrow at the death of the Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the leader of one of world's oldest Christian Churches. The 80-year old patriarch died on Friday after a long illness in a hospital in Germany, where he was admitted on Feb. 20. In a condolence telegram to the Patriarchate, Pope Francis regarded the late Patriarch as of one of the Christian world’s “outstanding spiritual leaders,” who was, “courageous and wise in leading people through very difficult times.” Pope Francis recalled that since his election in 1980, the Patriarch witnessed violence conflicts of death and suffering in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and most recently in Syria. The Pope remembered Patriach Iwas as “a man of dialogue and peace with regard to the followers of all religious traditions,” and thanked God for “his constant work to improve relations among Christians” and “his extraordinary contribution to strengthening communion between Syrian Orthodox Christians and the Catholic faithful.”