Patriarch John X of Antioch visited the Catholic Monastery of Boze in Italy

John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, visited the monastic community of Boze in northern Italy, where he discussed with the monks the challenges facing Christians in the modern world. During the meeting, the head of the Orthodox Church of Antioch paid special attention to the spiritual significance of the Cross and its inseparable connection to the joy of the Resurrection, drawing a parallel with the symbolism of the sacrament of Baptism.

, the Patriarch emphasized that Christians in the Middle East are the bearers of an ancient tradition of bearing witness to Christ in the region where their faith originated. “In the East, thanks to our presence and deep historical roots, we carry on the legacy of bearing witness to Christ,” noted His Beatitude.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Patriarch John X asked the Boze community to offer prayers for the Church of Antioch, as well as for the peoples of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and the entire Middle East region. The visit concluded with an official exchange of commemorative gifts as a sign of strengthening inter-Christian ties.