A Syrian sculpture for the Pope

The London- based al-Hayat daily said in its Sunday's issue, according to well-informed sources that President Bashar al-Assad has presented Pope John Paul a sculpture representing Marcos Julius, better known as " Philip the Arab," of the Syrian origin who ruled Rome between 244 and 249 AD.

In its Sunday's issue, the paper added, according to the same sources that the Syrian President talked about the history of the Roman leader in political remarks of great meanings.

The paper added that it is known about Philip the Arab, who was born in Shehba to the north of Syria in 200 AD by eliminating slavery in Rome and pardoning political detainees, the return of exiled persons, relying on people, the principle of the supremacy of the law as well as his religious tolerance.