Pope repeats his call - End violence and bloodshed in Syria

April 03, 2012: There has been alarming increase of violence in Syria, with an indiscriminate use of force which has not spared inhabited areas, bringing about loss of lives among civilians and considerable damage to property, observed Mons. Michael Fitzgerald, Delegate of the Holy See to the League of Arab States, at the second meeting of the Friends of Syrian people, on Sunday.
Recalling the appeal made by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, on Sunday 12 February, the Prelate said that unfortunately the Pope’s call for “an end to all violence and bloodshed”, is still relevant.
Repeating the appeal, Mosgr. Fitzgerald said that the logic of violence, where violence begets further violence, is to be avoided at all costs.
The Holy See expresses its solidarity with victims of this violence. Pope Benedict prays for those victims, not only those who have lost their lives, including young children, but also “the injured and all those who are suffering the consequences of an ever more worrying conflict”, he added.
The Holy See delegate called for local and international organizations to assist in the humanitarian aid to the needy. He also announced that the Holy See is making a financial contribution to this humanitarian aid.
Acknowledging the UN mission, he said that a ray of hope has come from the mission entrusted by the UN and the League of Arab States to former Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan.
Syria, no less than any other nation, is a member of the family of nations, and so the international community is right to be concerned for the peace and stability of the region. The Holy See remains convinced that regional and multilateral organisations are an important instrument in promoting peace and stability in the world, the prelate added.
He reiterated the appeal of Pope Benedict XVI to the Syrian people “to give priority to the way of dialogue, of reconciliation and of the commitment to peace”.