See the patriarch in place in Södertälje: "Want to see the churches merged"

After a conflict in the 1990s, the Syriac Orthodox Church in Sweden split into two dioceses, with each bishop having their seats in Södertälje.

And now the one bishop, Ablahad Gallo Shabo who sat at the throne for 35 years, has stepped down.

"Will hear what the people want"

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem Kerim II from Syria, has the equivalent status of the Pope within the Catholic Church.

During his visit to Södertälje, he called church leaders from all over the country to a large meeting to begin the work of finding a new bishop.

But to SVT Nyheter Södertälje, he revealed that he would prefer the churches to merge.

- Now I will listen to what the people want, he says in a unique interview.

Hear Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem Kerim II tell more in the clip above.