Apostolic Nuncio Appeals to end violence in Syria

May 26, 2012: "Stop atrocities in Syria’ appealed the Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, Mosn. Mario Zenari. He was talking to Fides news agency on Saturday. "This massacre does not give any hope. We demand an end to such atrocities. All believers, Christians and Muslims today are called to discover weapons of prayer and fasting, to rekindle the hope of a peaceful future in Syria", Zenari said.

With Instability, insecurity, violence, and massacres, the scenario in Syria today is very bleak. According to the "Syrian National Council", who leads the opposition in Houla, near Homs, 88 people, including civilians and children, were killed by the bombing of the regular army. Fides sources tell a different version: the regular army would hit Houla, where there are refugees, many Salafist militants and terrorists who burnt the National Hospital in the city, causing many casualties, and then used civilians as human shields.

According to Fides sources in the Christian community, even armed gangs are in control of many places. Meanwhile, the Armenian Apostolic Church in Homs and the school district annexed in Hamidia were seized and occupied by the Syrian military's Liberation Army, who use the buildings as housing and hospitals.

P. Romualdo Fernandez, a Franciscan friar of Tabbaleh Shrine, dedicated to St. Paul in Damascus, says Fides: "People are confused and disoriented. Officials are not sure of the news of successive massacres. There are criticisms of the regime's opposition to the rebels. As Christians share the sufferings of the people, tried by the conflict. We work for peace and justice, without adhering to any political faction. "