Catholic leader of Syrian calls on the West to stop funding the armed opposition

The head of the Syrian Catholic Church Ignatius Joseph III urged Western countries to stop funding the militants in Syria and to lift the sanctions against the country, reports Interfax with reference to Vatican Radio.

"I still hope that Western countries, Western politicians will agree to stop funding and arming (militants in Syria – Ed.), because otherwise the civil war will not cease," said the Catholic leader.

He also appealed "to lift the embargo, sanctions against Syria," noting that they are "detrimental to the population."

Joseph III also expressed concern for the fate of the kidnapped by Syrian opposition militants in April 2013 near Aleppo Metropolitan Paul of Aleppo, a brother of Patriarch John X of Antioch, and Syro-Jacobite Metropolitan John Ibrahim of Aleppo.

He said that they have never been heard of so far.

Read also

UOC House Church Set Ablaze in Khmelnytskyi Region

Police have identified the arsonist.

World's Most Premature Baby Celebrates First Birthday

Iowa NICU defies “impossible” odds to save boy born at 21 weeks.

Court Extends Detention of Metropolitan Arseny by Two Months — Again

Defense Prepares Appeal as Legal Irregularities Surround Continued Imprisonment of UOC Hierarch

Holy Martyrs of Alapaevsk Honored in Russian Gethsemane

The liturgy was attended by the monastery’s clergy, Arabic-speaking clergy from the Jerusalem Patriarchate, Hieromonk Peter (Borodulin) of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, and pilgrims in holy orders.

Diocese of Alaska Announces Annual St. Herman Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage will take place from August 7 to 9.

First LGBT Archbishopess Elected in Anglican Church

Sixty-six-year-old Cherry Vann lives with her civil partner and two dogs.