Speaking to the thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, the Pope called
for an end to the violence and bloodshed that has claimed thousands of lives in Syria.
The Holy Father made the appeal at his Sunday Angelus.
The Holy Father also
called for priority to be given to the path of dialogue, reconciliation and peace.
Much
of the conflict in Syria has focused on the city of Homs where 23 were killed yesterday
after a lull in shelling on Saturday. Protests which began 11 months ago have left
thousands dead. The government of President Bashar Al Assad did promise to enact political
reforms but they remain far from the changes demonstrators are asking for. Even a
resolution on Syria put forward by the UN Security was vetoed by both China and Russia.
Pope
Benedict said he was following with great apprehension events in Syria and he added
that he remembered in prayer the victims, including children, “those who have been
wounded and those suffering the consequences of an increasingly worrying conflict."