Emergency Syria: the Pope’s appeal

The crisis afflicting the Syrian population shows no sign of letting up. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres has stated that “We have not seen a refugee outflow escalate at such a frightening rate since the Rwandan genocide almost 20 years ago ”.

Some figures:

• 7  million people in need of humanitarian assistance;
• 4.5 million internally displaced persons;
• 2 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries;
• 5,000 deaths per month.

Pope Francis expressed concern for the worsening of the situation at the Angelus of Sunday 1 September. Here are his words:

Today, dear brothers and sisters, I wish to make add my voice to the cry which rises up with increasing anguish from every part of the world, from every people, from the heart of each person, from the one great family which is humanity: it is the cry for peace! It is a cry which declares with force: we want a peaceful world, we want to be men and women of peace, and we want in our society, torn apart by divisions and conflict, that peace break out! War never again! Never again war! Peace is a precious gift, which must be promoted and protected.

There are so many conflicts in this world which cause me great suffering and worry, but in these days my heart is deeply wounded in particular by what is happening in Syria and anguished by the dramatic developments which are looming.

I appeal strongly for peace, an appeal which arises from the deep within me. How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed! I think of many children will not see the light of the future! With utmost firmness I condemn the use of chemical weapons: I tell you that those terrible images from recent days are burned into my mind and heart. There is a judgment of God and of history upon our actions which are inescapable! Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence.

With all my strength, I ask each party in this conflict to listen to the voice of their own conscience, not to close themselves in solely on their own interests, but rather to look at each other as brothers and decisively and courageously to follow the path of encounter and negotiation, and so overcome blind conflict. With similar vigour I exhort the international community to make every effort to promote clear proposals for peace in that country without further delay, a peace based on dialogue and negotiation, for the good of the entire Syrian people.

May no effort be spared in guaranteeing humanitarian assistance to those wounded by this terrible conflict, in particular those forced to flee and the many refugees in nearby countries. May humanitarian workers, charged with the task of alleviating the sufferings of these people, be granted access so as to provide the necessary aid.”

Help us support the Syrian population, to provide food and medicines, and to give concrete support to all the friars and religious who are living in Syria so that they can continue to be a sign of hope for all.

 ***

To stay informed on the situation in Syria: www.terrasanta.net