Jacobite Syrian Church declares three days' mourning
Kochi: The
Jacobite Syrian Church
has declared
three days' mourning
as a gesture of respect towards the late Roman pontiff.
Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan of the Jacobite Church Mor Baselios Joseph I stated that the passing of
Pope Francis
was an irreplaceable loss for Christian denominations and the general society.
"He had a deep love and care for the
Syriac Orthodox Church
and the hospitality and affection showed during his visit with Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II in 2015 was an unforgettable experience. The Jacobite Syriac Church shares the profound sorrow experienced by the global Catholic Church and the world due to the passing of Pope Francis," the Catholicos said.
He added that along with expressing condolences to the Catholic Church, he prays that he continues to intercede for the Church and society.
Metropolitan Kuriakose Mor Theophilos said that he remembers the time the Pope and he both attended an ecumenical meet in the Vatican at a time when Metropolitan Ibrahim was kidnapped in Aleppo.
"At the meeting, I spoke about the kidnapping in my speech and presented my sorrow before the Pope. Usually, it was I who was to go towards him and kiss his hand. However, he got up from his chair and came towards me. He hugged me and consoled me," said Theophilos. He added that he met the Pope at least once a year for ecumenical meetings and he was amazed by his broad ecumenical perspective.
He said that the loss of Pope Francis, is a loss not just for the Catholic Church but that of everyone. "I express my condolences to everyone, especially those from the Catholic Church," said Theophilos.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Secular parties should approach minorities directly: Sebastian Paul
Veteran politician Sebastian Paul on Monday (June 9) said it was high time the Communist parties in Kerala reached out to the Christian community without the mediation of the community-based political organisations. He was speaking at a seminar on 'Religions and Political Parties', held as part of the second anniversary celebrations of Deshiya Manavika Vedi in Kozhikode. Mr. Paul urged Communist parties to come up with an action plan to create political awareness among the members of the community rather than appease the smaller political parties that often represent the community. 'It is quite difficult to bridge the gap between followers of communism and Christianity. Communist governments across the world have often clashed with the Church, not due to religious reasons, but due to financial and political factors,' he said. He added that the core values advocated by Jesus Christ and Karl Marx were strikingly similar, as both stood for the oppressed and marginalised. 'However, the Church later transformed into a protector of vested interests, owning large tracts of property, while communism advocated for equitable distribution of resources among the public,' Paul said. Filmmaker P.T. Kunhumuhammed, who presided over the seminar, pointed out the lack of influence of political organisations that claim to represent the Muslim population of the State. He shared Mr. Sebastian Paul's opinion that the major political parties should establish a direct line of contact with the minority communities. Social critic KEN Kunjahammed, MES president Fazal Gafoor, and writer Khadeeja Mumtaz also participated in the session. Writer K. Satchidanandan joined the discussions virtually.
India Gazette
9 hours ago
- India Gazette
Amjad Ayub Mirza exposes systemic persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan
London [UK], June 9 (ANI): Amjad Ayub Mirza, a leading activist from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), has delivered a scathing analysis of the Voice of Minority in Pakistan's May 2025 report, which highlights the deteriorating situation of religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and Ahmadis, under the country's majoritarian framework. Mirza accused Pakistan of cultivating a culture of impunity in which Muslims, protected by blasphemy laws, supposedly have a 'licence to kill.' Citing Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code, he emphasised how simple accusations of blasphemy can result in arrests, lynchings, or even capital punishment, as seen most infamously in the cases of Asiya Bibi and the assassinations of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Christian minister Shahbaz Bhatti. According to the report, at least 43 cases of religious persecution occurred in May 2025 alone, including deliberate violence against Hindus in Sindh's Mirpur Khas and against Christian women in Lahore. Notably, six attacks on the Ahmadiyya community were reported in districts including Kasur, Sialkot, and Lahore, with several reportedly carried out by bar associations, Tehreek-e-Labbaik, and police officers. Mirza described how young minority girls, some as young as 12, are abducted and forced to convert to Islam. He also quoted the Sindh Assembly, where MPA Faisal verified reports of Hindus being compelled to eat beef, which is profoundly repugnant to their religious views. These reported actions frequently coincide with religious festivals, such as Bakra Eid. Beyond physical violence, minorities are systematically excluded from civil services, education, and political participation. Many are relegated to low-paying jobs like sanitation work and live in neglected neighbourhoods lacking basic utilities. Temples, churches, and gurdwaras are frequently vandalised or illegally occupied, while media outlets ignore or suppress reports of festivals like Diwali or Christmas. Mirza concluded that the persecution of minorities in Pakistan is not incidental, but embedded in the ideological foundation of the state. 'Being a Christian or a Hindu in Pakistan is treated like a crime,' he said. (ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
11 hours ago
- First Post
'God opens border': Pope Leo rejects ‘exclusionary mindset' of nationalists. Is Trump the target?
Pope Francis condemned the emergence of nationalist political movements and their 'exclusionary mindset'. Many believe that the 'American Pope' was taking jabs at Trump read more The new sovereign of the Vatican, Pope Leo, has condemned the emergence of nationalist political movements and their 'exclusionary mindset', without naming a specific leader of a country, with many wondering if he was calling out the country he is from, the United States. It is pertinent to note that Leo was the first American Pope. The remarks from the head of the Vatican came during a mass on Sunday, when thousands gathered at St Peter's Square. During the mass, the Pope emphasised that God 'opens borders, breaks down walls [and] dispels hatred'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'There is no room for prejudice, for 'security' zones separating us from our neighbours, for the exclusionary mindset that, unfortunately, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms,' he said. Pope Leo calls for more openness The pontiff insisted that the church 'must open the borders between peoples and break down the barriers between class and race'. 'People must move beyond our fear of those who are different,' he explained, adding that the Holy Spirit 'breaks down barriers and tears down the walls of indifference and hatred'. Pope Leo, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected as the Vatican sovereign on May 8. He succeeded the late Pope Francis as leader of the 1.4 billion-member church. Before he was elected to the post, Prevost was open with his criticism of US President Donald Trump. He often shares several disapproving posts about the US president and vice president, JD Vance, on X in recent years. However, it is pertinent to note that the Vatican never confirmed the pope's ownership of the X account, which had the handle @drprevost. Interestingly, the X handle was instantly deactivated after the Pope was elected. Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, who served in the post for 12 years, was also a sharp critic of Trump. In January this year, Pope Francis said that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the US during his second term was a disgrace. Francis has often said that Trump was not Christian because of his views on immigration. 'A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian,' he said when asked about Trump in 2016.
