PRESIDENT ASSAD WELCOMES POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND (May 5, 2001)
His Holiness Pope John Paul II,
On behalf of the Syrian Arab people, on my own behalf and on behalf of the
Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, I warmly welcome Your Holiness and I
whish You a happy stay in our country, which enjoys your visit.
Your Holiness,
While visiting Syria you are treading the land of history, the homeland which
hosted the most ancient civilizations in the world, and was a beacon which
spread its light towards humanity throughout many centuries during which most
regions of the world obtained guidance from its light. From Syria, which protect
Christianity after Jesus Christ, Apostle Paul proceeded, preaching, with the
other Disciples of Christ, the new religion in various parts of the world and
calling for fraternity, justice and equality.
From Syria as well Islam spread throughout the world advocating justice, love
and equality among human beings with no distinction between one and another
except by God fearing. Today, Your Holiness arrive as a dear guest among a
people all of them worship the only God, solicit the help of Almighty, live
together in amity and harmony, work for the high standing and prosperity of
their homeland, and are proud of their ancient past and of the several
civilizations of their ancestors which left for them a rich historic heritage
that made of Syria a homeland of tolerance and love and sanctuary for the
persecuted as well as a meeting point of heavenly religions that have spread
incessantly throughout history. This is confirmed by the many relics of worship
houses in various parts of Syria, the pontification of eight Popes from Syria to
the Holy See in the Vatican, and the Presence of the Headquarters of three
Oriental Patriarchates in Damascus.
Almighty God, praise be to him, sent to us Apostles and Prophets to teach us how
to avert going astray and to guide us to the straight path. His will was that
their journey be one of struggle and suffering for the sake of consolidating the
principles to which they were devoted. All of us have learnt a great deal of the
suffering and agony of Jesus Christ at the hands of those who resisted the
divine and human principles and values He preached, in the forefront of which
are love, tolerance and equality among human beings. Jesus Christ wanted his
Disciples to sustain these principles and to protect people from a suffering
such as His.
As Heads of the Holy See in Rome, Your Holiness embody the summit of
responsibility for maintaining those values, especially that there are those who
invariably attempt to subject all people once and again to the journey of
ailments and agony. Therefore, our brethren in Palestine are being murdered and
tortured, justice is being violated, and as a result territories in Lebanon, the
Golan and Palestine have been occupied by those who even killed the principle of
equality when they claimed that God created a people distinguished above all
other peoples. We notice them aggressing against Moslem and Christian Holy Sites
in Palestine, violating the sanctity of the Holy Mosque (Al-Aqsa), of the church
of Sepulcher in Jerusalem and of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. They try
to kill all the principles of divine faiths with the same mentality of betraying
Jesus Christ and torturing Him, and in the same way that they tried to commit
treachery against Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon Him).
The application of heavenly tenets requires taking a stand against those who
oppose them. Equality means that dealing with other peoples should not be
governed by psychological complexes or claims of distinction above other
peoples. Justice means restoration of rights to those who deserve them. Land and
houses in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine belong to their owners. It also means
return of the refugees to their homeland. Love means refraining from killing
Arabs out of hatred, and to teach Children not to bear malice against others.
Truth is realized by refraining from distorting current and historical facts and
from claiming rights and history which have no basis.
Thus we say that we are committed to just and comprehensive peace which restores
the land in full to its owners in accordance with UN Security Council
resolutions, allows the return of the refugees to their homes and leads to the
establishment of the independent state of Palestine, with Jerusalem as its
capital. Our rights are confirmed by heavenly laws, by history and by
international resolutions.
Your Holiness, we highly appreciate your efforts for the benefit of humanity,
and for spreading love among people, as well as your efforts in defence of the
victims of injustice. We feel that in your prayers when you recall The agony of
Jesus Christ you will remember the peoples of Lebanon, the Golan and Palestine
who are tormented and they suffer from suppression and persecution. We expect
Your Holiness to be on their side in their endeavour to regain what was unjustly
usurped from them.
Again I warmly welcome Your Holiness in Syria.
Thank You
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