'The West has betrayed us,' says Syrian Catholic Patriarch

November 18, 2015

Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignace Youssif III Younan has lashed out at Western countries for policies that, he says, have caused an “endless conflict in Syria.”

“To say that the solution is to carry out air strikes is a lie,” said the Syrian prelate, in an interview with the Egyptian magazine Le Messager. He said that local Christian leaders warned that the Assad regime could not be easily deposed, but Western political leaders ignored those warnings, and their “foolish politics” have led to years of bloodshed.

“We Christians are not able to live in this chaos,” the Syrian Patriarch said. “The West has betrayed us.”

The Patriarch said that terrorist groups—with financing supplied from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region—have thoroughly infiltrated Syria and Iraq, leading to the rise of the Islamic State. Now, he warned, terrorists have moved into Europe, posing as refugees, and will strike there.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Patriarch Younan: IS cannot be defeated with air raids, the West has betrayed Christians (AsiaNews)
• Syrian Catholic Patriarch rips Western indifference (CWN, 10/8)