Syria’s “Christmas Hope” Masks Apostasy from Christ the King
EWTN News reports (December 24, 2025) on Christmas celebrations in Syria following the repeal of U.S. “Caesar Act” sanctions. The article describes interfaith events like the Melkite “Olive Scout Troop” carnival in Damascus, Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi visiting Mar Elias Church, a “non-ecclesial” Christmas market in Tartous, and minor vandalism incidents. It frames these as hopeful signs despite “lingering security fears,” while noting U.S. congressional oversight for “protecting minorities.” This naturalistic narrative omits the Divine Kingship of Christ and sacralizes the modernist cult of man.
Syncretism Displaces the One True Faith
The article presents Christmas as a generic festival of “joy” and “peace” detached from its raison d’ĂȘtre – the Incarnation of the Divine Word. Nowhere does it mention the munus triplex (threefold office) of Christ as Priest, Prophet, and King. Instead, we find:
“messages of hope that transcend divisions and wounds”
This echoes the conciliar sect’s false ecumenism condemned by Pius XI in Mortalium Animos: “The union of Christians can only be fostered by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ.” The “Olive Scout Troop” carnival’s eclectic symbolism – mixing “church and national flags” with secular brass bands – constitutes religious indifferentism. Pius IX’s Syllabus of Errors (1864) anathematizes such equality between Catholicism and false religions (Proposition 21).
Naturalism Replaces Supernatural Order
Patriarch John X’s church visit exemplifies the neo-church’s focus on material reconstruction over spiritual salvation. While inspecting a bomb-damaged building, there is zero mention of restoring the Holy Sacrifice or sacramental life. Contrast this with Pius XI’s encyclical Quas Primas (1925): “Nations will be reminded by the annual celebration of this feast that not only private individuals but also rulers and princes are bound to give public honor and obedience to Christ.”
The article reduces Christianity to a social service agency:
“plant joy in the hearts of children and help them live in peace” (Archimandrite Michel Deirani)
This echoes the modernist heresy condemned in St. Pius X’s Lamentabili Sane (1907): “The Church listening cooperates […] the Church teaching should only approve the common opinions” (Proposition 6). True Catholic joy flows from sanctifying grace, not psychological therapy.
Sanctions Lift, But God’s Justice Remains
While celebrating the Caesar Act’s repeal, the article ignores Syria’s chief problem: rejection of Christ’s social reign. Pius XI warned in Quas Primas:
“When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony.”
The vandalism incidents (burned trees, stolen St. Paul statue) are symptomatic of a society refusing Regnum Christi. As Pope Pius IX taught: “The injustice of an act when successful inflicts no injury on the sanctity of right” (Syllabus, Proposition 61). Security measures cannot replace societal conversion.
U.S. Oversight: New Colonialism Against Christ
The article parrots globalist narratives by presenting U.S. congressional oversight as beneficial for “protecting minorities.” This ignores the Libertas Praestantissimum (Leo XIII): “The State must officially profess the true religion.” The 134 U.S. Congress members pushing secular “minority rights” promote the very religious indifferentism condemned in Quas Primas:
“The rebellion of individuals and states against the authority of Christ has produced deplorable consequences.”
Omissions That Condemn
- No mention of the Traditional Latin Mass – the only authentic renewal of Christ’s Birth.
- No call for Syria’s consecration to Christ the King – only worldly “economic rebuilding.”
- No distinction between Catholic truth and heretical sects – equating Melkite Catholics with Greek Orthodox schismatics.
- No invocation of Our Lady’s intercession – replacing her with scout troops and markets.
The “heightened security measures” cannot replace the Pax Christi that comes only through the Social Reign of Our Lord. As long as Syria rejects its King, no sanctions relief or carnival will bring true peace. Let Syria heed Pius XI’s warning: “Sweet peace will never be theirs unless they obey Christ.”
Source:
Syria celebrates Christmas with hope amid lingering security fears (ewtnnews.com)
Date: 24.12.2025