Who are the Christians of the East? The book "A Monk as Hostage" answers the question through the personal testimony of Father Jacques Mourad, who was a prisoner of the jihadists in Syria for four months and twenty days. Father Jacques and Andrea Riccardi talked about it during the presentation of the Italian edition of the book. This occurred in the Benedict XIII Hall at the San Gallicano (Rome).
A possible coexistence has emerged between different Muslims and Christians, which are two worlds that have many souls within them. Mourad describes the impact of this vision and the mission of his friend Paolo Dall'Oglio, who had recreated the Christian community around the monastery of Mar Musa, which is not far from that of Mar Elian, from which Father Jacques was taken. The audience recalled with emotion Paolo Dall'Oglio, who was kidnapped in 2013, and his efforts to break down every wall of division with Islam. Together with journalist Amaury Guillem, the book talks about the young jihadists, but even about the Muslims who gave their lives to bring Christians out of the control of Isis.
The gift of prayer leads to encounters with people of different faiths. Specifically, Father Jacques rediscovers it most powerfully during the harsh and painful imprisonment. A further gift was the rejection of violence and weapons, which so many young people harness.
Nonetheless, this repudiation of violence saves lives, and Father Jacques’ experience is an example. "You will not liberate Qaryatayn with weapons" was his cry: from a village in the desert, he saw the possibility of making an oasis, winning with goodness and peace.
His testimony gives a message to the Christians of Europe through these words and his eyes, which are turned to the document on Human Fraternity. Christians are united in faith and in the challenge of dialogue. They are even linked with the Humanitarian Corridors, which is a response that Father Jacques supported.
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