Mon Apr 21 14:24:23 UTC 2025: ## World Mourns Pope Francis: Middle East Christians Remember Peace Advocate

**Cairo/Beirut, April 21, 2025** – The death of Pope Francis at age 88 has been met with widespread grief, particularly in the Middle East, where Christians remember him as a staunch advocate for peace. Members of Gaza’s small Christian community expressed heartbreak, recalling the Pope’s nightly phone calls during the 2023 war, offering comfort and reassurance. “We lost a saint,” said George Antone, head of the emergency committee at the Holy Family Church in Gaza. Antone highlighted the Pope’s personal calls, extending beyond the priest to all present, offering the message, “I am with you, don’t be afraid.”

Across the region, from Palestine and Lebanon to Syria, both Catholic and Orthodox Christians praised Francis’ unwavering commitment to their communities, offering solace amidst war, hardship, and persecution. In Bethlehem, a shop owner draped a black ribbon over a photo of the late Pope, symbolizing the widespread sorrow.

In Lebanon, ravaged by last year’s war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Maronite community remembered Francis’ frequent appeals for their suffering. One priest described him as a “saint” who carried the Middle East in his heart, while Marie-Jo Dib, from a Lebanese social foundation, noted his mobilization of Catholic institutions to aid Lebanon’s crisis.

Even in Syria, Archbishop Antiba Nicolas recalled the Pope’s consistent support and affectionate references to the country. Francis’ numerous visits to the Middle East, including a 2021 trip to Iraq where he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, further emphasized his dedication to peace in the region. His final public statement, an Easter appeal for a ceasefire in Gaza, underscored his unwavering commitment to resolving the conflict. Many expressed hope that the next Pope will continue his legacy of peacemaking in the Holy Land and beyond.

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