A farewell prayer and tribute were held for the Papal Nuncio, Monsignor Mario Zenari, on the occasion of the end of his diplomatic service in Syria after 18 years of work.

📍 Location:
Patriarchate of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church – Church of the Olive Tree

During the event, attendees presented letters directly to the Papal Nuncio, reflecting the daily fears and dangers faced by Syrian Christians. The content included:
• The current reality does not represent us
• They stole the statue of St. Paul
• Today, our future is being stolen
• Our lives matter — open the doors of migration
• We do not want to be victims

🔴 The appeal also included a clear and direct message:

“Monsignor Mario, Christians are in danger — help us.”

This peaceful initiative reflects the growing concerns among Syrian Christians regarding:
• Marginalization and forced displacement
• Erosion of communal presence
• Lack of effective guarantees for security, dignity, and freedom of worship

Amid a fragile political and security situation, daily violations include the killing of civilians, extrajudicial executions by elements of the de facto authority following the ideology of Ibn Taymiyyah and terrorist groups, as civilians are considered, according to their extremist and doctrinal approach, enemies of God — infidels, polytheists, and apostates. This is in addition to daily thefts and looting, enforced disappearances, kidnappings and captivity, systemic marginalization in state institutions, mass dismissal based on sectarian lines, targeting of religious symbols, bombing and attacks on churches, and threats to Syria’s historically diverse social fabric.

📌 This appeal falls within the legitimate demands to protect all components of the Syrian people across their religious and sectarian groups, ensure their fundamental rights, and halt practices that threaten the Christian presence and Syria’s historical identity.