Syria has expelled an Italian Jesuit priest for his outspoken criticism of the government’s crackdown on a popular uprising. The Rev. Paolo Dall’Oglio has lived in Syria for 30 years, helping to restore a 1,000-year-old monastery that became a center for Muslim and Christian understanding. Dall’Oglio’s departure from Damascus on Saturday was sudden. More than Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Syria’
Syria’s descent into hell
Friday, June 15th, 2012
The Vatican’s ambassador to Syria has warned that Syria has started its descent into hell, but speaking on Vatican Radio, Nuncio Mario Zenari would not comment on whether Syria was in the midst of a ‘civil war’. “Syria has started its slide into hell. In addition to material destruction, the conflict is tearing at the heart. Read more
Syria’s ultimatum to Christians: “Leave Qusayr”
Tuesday, June 12th, 2012An exodus of Christians is taking place in Western Syria: the Christian population has fled the city of Qusayr, near Homs, following an ultimatumissued by the military chief of the armed opposition, Abdel Salam Harba. This is what local sources told Vatican news agency Fides, pointing out that since the conflict broke out, only a thousand Read more
Tolerance and Islam
Friday, June 8th, 2012
Last week there was shock and outrage around the globe at the massacre of scores of women and children in Syria by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Part of the tension causing the present conflict is the fact that Assad and his supporters belong to the minority Shia Alawite sect, about 10 per cent Read more
Pope saddened by Syrian massacre: calls for dialogue
Friday, June 1st, 2012
Pope Benedict is saddened by the military’s massacre of civilians in the Syrian town of Houla, and has again called for talks to end the violence. “The recent massacre in the Syrian town of Houla in which around one hundred people, including numerous children, lost their lives, is a motive of great sorrow and concern Read more
Vatican official says Pope, local Church helping sustain Syrians
Thursday, April 19th, 2012The secretary for the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, Monsignor Giampetro dal Toso, says Pope Benedict and Syrian Church are helping sustain locals amid continuing violence in the country. In an interview with CNA on April 13 in Rome, Msgr. Dal Toso explained that when the Pope sent a donation of $100,000 to help Catholics in Read more
Franciscan custodian of Holy Land says ‘no’ to military intervention in Syria
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012
Any potential international military action would have negative repercussions for the entire Middle Eastern region according to Custodian of the Holy Land, Fr Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The Syrian regime has no future, Pizzabella told the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need. “Syria is going through a civil war, even if we do not refer to it Read more
Pope Benedict donates funds to local Church in Syria
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012It was announced on Saturday Pope Benedict XVI has given $100,000 (US) for the charitable work of the local Church in Syria. The Holy Father has repeatedly appealed for the end of violence in Syria, and has called for dialogue and reconciliation between the those involved in the conflict, in view of peace and the common good.
The donation was made through the Pontifical Council ‘Cor Unum’.
Read the article...Pope: Holy Thursday collection to support Syrian refugees
Friday, March 30th, 2012
Pope Benedict has announced that the collection money from Holy Thursday evening Mass in the basilica of St John Lateran will be used for humanitarian aid in support of Syrian refugees. The Maronite Archbishop of Damascus Samir Nassar, labelled the Pope’s action is “a very generous gesture”. “It is a gesture of closeness and solidarity that has Read more
Swelling with Syrian refugees Lebanon is a human emergency
Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
There are around 20,000 refugees from Syria in Lebanon, which according to Caritas Lebanon is making Lebanon a “human emergency”. The refugees are exhausted and desperate. More expected to follow. Fr Simon Faddoul, President of Caritas Lebanon tells Fides: “The official figures of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees speak of 8-9000 displaced Syrians, officially Read more