President Bashar al-Assad - CathNews New Zealand

Syria's civil war marks 13th anniversary, "world's worst displacement crisis"

Ronan — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 04:51:42 +0000

As Syria marks the 13th anniversary of the beginning of its civil war on March 15, one Catholic agency says people "should not forget that Syria is the world's worst displacement crisis."

In March 2011, popular discontent with the government of Bashar al-Assad led to large-scale protests and pro-democracy rallies across Syria, echoing the Arab Spring protests taking place in other countries.

Assad ordered a harsh response by the military, causing thousands of deaths and detentions. Soon, a full-scale civil war erupted. Since the war began, around 600,000 people have been killed - over half of them civilians - and 13.5 million have been displaced, half of these are refugees that fled the country.

CAFOD, the international aid agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, says the Syrian people have suffered so much since the beginning of the conflict 13 years ago.

Syria's civil war marks 13th anniversary, "world's worst displacement crisis"

Pope tells it straight to Syria's president

Juliet Palmer — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 08:08:05 +0000

In a hand-delivered letter, Pope Francis told Syria's President Bashar al-Assad he is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in northern Syria's Idlib region which has been the target of Russian-backed airstrikes since April.

He also asked for the safe return of the millions of people displaced by years of fighting, information for the families of displaced persons as to their location and conditions, the humane treatment of political prisoners and the resumption of negotiations to seek a political solution to the conflict.

Dozens of schools, rescue centers and hospitals have been destroyed in aerial bombings, with more than 500 civilians believed to have been killed so far.

Cardinal Peter Turkson who heads the Vatican's department for Promoting Integral Human Development, accompanied by Italian Cardinal Mario Zenari, the pope's ambassador in Syria, delivered the letter to Assad on Monday.

The Holy See's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, says the letter was a humanitarian gesture urging Assad to take steps towards reconciliation.

"What is happening is intolerable and inhuman," he said.

"The Holy Father asks the President to do everything possible to put an end to this humanitarian catastrophe, in order to protect the defenceless population, especially those who are most vulnerable."

Syrian state news agency SANA says Assad had told Turkson it was important to put pressure on countries supporting terrorists, a term Damascus uses to describe the rebels seeking his downfall.

Syria's war, now in its ninth year, grew out of popular protests against Assad, devastating many towns and cities. An estimated half a million people have died in the fighting.

More than 5.6 million Syrian refugees have fled to Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt and 6.6 million have been displaced within its borders.

Francis has made the situation in Syria a top political and diplomatic priority since his election in March 2013.

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Pope tells it straight to Syria's president

Church condemns US Syria missile strike

Juliet Palmer — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 08:09:11 +0000

Church leaders have condemned Friday's US missile strike in Syria. They say it will only extend the country's civil war, with Christians being its primary victims.

The Pentagon says the missile strike was a retaliatory move following what appeared to be a chemical attack that killed 80 civilians in Syria's Idlib province.

While many Catholic leaders, Russia and Syria are strongly against the missile strike, much of the world supports the US.

Syrian Bishop Georges Abou Khazen, Vicar of Aleppo for Latin-rite Catholics, said the US was "reckless" to launch 59 missiles at a Syrian government military base.

It opens "new disturbing scenarios for all," he said.

He said nobody is listening to Pope Francis, who has always opposed foreign-led military action in Syria.

Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph Younan said the "agglomerate media and the supremacist policy of the USA" want to "kill whatever attempt to resolve the bloody crisis.

"It is a shame the US didn't wait until an honest United Nations investigation was thoroughly made into what is said to be a chemical air strike in Khan Shaykun," he added.

The Pentagon has confirmed 59 Tomahawk land attack missiles were launched on Thursday night (US time).

They were sent as a retaliatory move after what appeared to be a chemical attack that killed 80 civilians.

The United States government is convinced that the attack was perpetrated by President Bashar al-Assad. Not everyone agrees this is correct.

Catholic clergy, including the Fransiscan friars in Assisi, Caritas Italy, Pax Christi, the Italian bishops conference and Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, India are dismayed by the US attack.

"Violence is never a victory, no one ever wins. War is a defeat of humanity and doesn't resolve problems," said Cardinal Angelo Comastri.

Comastri is the Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica and Vicar General for the Vatican City State.

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Church condemns US Syria missile strike