Cardinal Claudio Gudgeroti, head of the Vatican's Eastern Churches Department, emphasized in his speech from Syria that his current visit is purely ecclesiastical, aiming to assess the conditions of Christians there.
Gudgeroti celebrated Mass at the Church of the St. Paul Sanctuary in Tabbala, Damascus, , marking the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Commemoration of the Conversion of St. Paul. The Mass was attended by the Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Youssef Absi; the Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari; the Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo and head of the Latin Church in Syria, Bishop Hanna Jallouf; along with a number of bishops, priests, and a large crowd of believers.
In his address, Gudgeroti conveyed Pope Francis's love and closeness to Syrian Christians, expressing his full solidarity with them. He said, "I am honored to be here representing Pope Francis... His Holiness knows well what is in your hearts and asked me to convey his desire that God fills your hearts with true and complete peace.
Regarding Damascus and its significance in Christianity, Gudgeroti explained, "Damascus is a beautiful and radiant city, once like a queen during the Roman Empire and still a queen, though it suffers from aging. On the roads you walk every day, something very significant happened; a person who severely persecuted Christians fell here on this ground and then rose again... It is Saul who became Paul, discovering the beauty and mystery of Christ the Lord in this place.
He added, "We owe our gathering today to the Apostle Paul; the church, which could have been a small stream within Judaism, opened its doors in Damascus to embrace the whole world, so Paul is rightly called the Apostle of the Nations." He continued, "From Paul's story, we can draw the lesson that the Church of Christ must not be harmed; anyone who harms it will fall and have to account for their actions. 'The gates of hell shall not prevail against it,' this is our faith and confidence.
Gudgeroti further stated, "We are in the hands of a God of great mercy. Even the fiercest persecutor falls and loses sight, and when his eyes open, he understands that the way of violence and rejection of others and oppression is a rejection of God himself. This evening, when you return home, tell your families that God has triumphed, and the Church will remain unharmed. No one can fight against God and live. Take a deep breath, then let go of all fear and confusion, and say with the Apostle Thomas, 'My Lord and my God,' so your strength in the face of persecutions will be a blessing for all peoples.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of faith and prayer, saying, "We have become a large gathering raising our hands to heaven and crying out with all confidence, 'Save the people of Syria, O God.'"