More than a month after Syria’s political shift, Christians there are vocalizing a sense of relief as initial assurances for their safety and security by the de facto government have report-edly been provided. Christians continue to seek more concrete guarantees, although opinions differ on what form these guara-ntees should take.
For some Christians, the Church remains their primary safeguard, as it has been since Ottoman rule. In this view, clergy are in charge of representing their communities in political and legal arenas.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch, John X (Yazigi), is the most visible Christian leader in Syria, along-side the Latin apostolic vicar, Bishop Hanna Jallouf. The latter enjoys a longstanding and strong relationship with the new authori-ties. He recently visited his home-town and parish (Al-Qaniya, Idlib countryside) for the first time since his episcopal appointment, where he was warmly received.
Despite an important meeting between church leaders and re-presentatives with Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the head of Syria’s new administration, three patriarchs based in Damascus were notably absent. The absence was report-edly due to the customary visit of Patriarch Yazigi to congratulate the new leader – a visit that tradi-tionally precedes any other meet-ings with clergy.