A meeting occurred between the Community of Sant'Egidio and Bishop Armash Nalbandian who is the Primate of the Armenian Church of Damascus. It took place in the beautiful setting of the Church of San Gregorio Armeno, which documents the transfer of St. Gregory's relics to Naples around the year 930.
The bishop recalled how Christians have deeply marked the civilization of Syria, and in general of the Middle East, by coexisting peacefully with the Muslims. A scenario that has changed dramatically with the outbreak of war. "This is happening because of economic interests and not religious ones because the name of God is peace," reiterated the bishop, who thanked the Community of Sant'Egidio for continuing to pray for the release of Aleppo bishops Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi, who were kidnapped four years ago in Syria.
The meeting concluded with a prayer for peace, and in his homily, Bishop Nalbandian asked, "How do we restore peace in Syria? The answer is simple: by discovering God in the other." During his stay in Naples, the bishop also visited some elderly people who had been under the care of the Community of Sant'Egidio in the Rione Sanità.
