Bishop Meier warned against demands for the return of Syrian refugees
The Chairman of the World Church Commission draws a sobering conclusion after a three-day visit to Syria: The situation remains unstable, the number of Christians has dropped dramatically.
Augsburg Bishop Bertram Meier, Chairman of the World Church Commission of the German Bishops' Conference, has spoken out against blanket return demands for Syrian refugees. After a three-day visit on site, he emphasized that the situation in Syria remains unstable and complex. Without reliable security, educational and employment opportunities, as well as a sustainable social perspective, a return is currently not feasible for many. This was reported by Kirche und Leben. Meier pointed to the dramatic decline of the Christian population in Syria. While about 1.5 million Christians lived in the country before the war began, today it is estimated that only around 250,000 to 400,000 remain. Despite considerable spiritual strength, many communities showed themselves to be deeply exhausted. Poverty, inflation and lack of future prospects drove especially young people to emigration, while the churches were simultaneously confronted with growing social and pastoral tasks.
Regarding the new Islamist-influenced transitional government, Meier showed restraint. While there were signs of willingness to dialogue with minorities, it remained unclear whether actions would follow these gestures in the long term. The churches faced the difficult task of providing stability and strengthening their communities under unstable political and social conditions.
Previously, UOJ reported that Metropolitan Mark announced an eight-day pastoral visit to Italy.
