Pope: No more delays on Syrian peace plan

“We had seen some small glimmers of hope with the arrival of the first UN observers to Syria. But the violence and carnage on Thursday came like lightening in a blue sky”, says Archbishop Mario Zenari, Pope Benedict XVI’s representative to Damascus, commenting on Thursday’s twin bombings in the capital Damascus that left 55 people dead and almost 400 wounded.

On Friday Syrian authorities say they foiled another attempted suicide car bomb attack in the northern city of Aleppo, which today had escaped major episodes of violence that has plagued other Syrian cities since hostilities first began between the Assad regime and opposition rebels over a year ago.

In a statement released through Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, Pope Benedict condemned Thursday’s violence ensuring the prayers of the Catholic community for the victims and their families.

The Holy Father also called for a firm and joint commitment on the part of the entire international community to implement UN/Arab league envoy Kofi Annan’s peace plan, and more observers as soon as possible.

The sentiments were echoed by Pope Benedict’s representative on the ground in Damascus Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Mario Zenari: “The International community must move to back this plan, because the people don’t know what to do, what to think where Syria is going. We have to start again with courage and with commitment on the path to peace”. Listen: