On Friday, the patriarch hailed upcoming presidential elections - set for June 3 - as an important step towards "building the Syria that the honorable Syrians seek."
"The sorrowful events in Syria won't discourage the Syrian people from their national commitments and duties,'' added the Patriarch, advising the Syrians against migration and urging them to stay in the country.
During his Friday meeting with a solidarity delegation from the Syrian community in Sweden, he underscored the significance of such visits of expatriates for "showing solidarity with their fellow citizens during the times of hardship."
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, Western powers and their regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside the country.
An estimated 150,000 people have been reportedly killed and millions displaced due to the turmoil that has gripped Syria for over three years.
NTJ/MB