Pope Francis: pray, work for peace in Syria

July 05, 2016

Lamenting the “incredible quantities of money” spent on weapons used in Syria, Pope Francis has renewed his call for prayers for peace in the war-torn nation.

The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, “is a situation of unspeakable suffering that the Syrian people are victims of, forced to survive under bombs or to find escape routes to other countries or areas of Syria that are less war-torn: to leave their own home, everything,” he said in a video message released July 5. “I also think about the Christian communities, which I give my full support to for the discrimination they have to bear.”

The Pope lent his support to “Syria: peace is possible,” an advocacy campaign sponsored by Caritas Internationalis, the Church’s confederation of relief and development agencies.

“The invitation is to pray for peace in Syria and for its people at prayer vigils, at awareness-raising initiatives in groups, parishes and in communities, to spread the message of peace, a message of unity and hope,” Pope Francis said.

“Works of peace then follow prayer,” he added. “I invite you to call on those who are involved in peace negotiations to take these agreements seriously and to make every effort to facilitate access to humanitarian aid.”

 

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Further information:

• Video message from the Holy Father for Peace in Syria (YouTube Vatican)
• Videomessaggio del Santo Padre Francesco per la campagna per la pace in Siria promossa dalla Caritas Internationalis (Holy See Press Office)
• Syria: Peace is Possible (Caritas Internationalis)