“I visited Aleppo. Of approximately four million people in this city, around 35,000 Christians, not only Orthodox ones, have remained in this city,” the patriarch said.
“The existence of Christians in Syria is a very important issue,” he said. “The aid Russia provides is helping the people remain in the country,” he said.
However, “rebuilding Syria is not just to build houses and flats, it is to re-build a human soul,” John X said. “We must restore the ability to leave in peace,” the patriarch said.