Syria: violent unrest raises concern for Christian future

Deadly violence against anti-government protestors in Syria has intensified, with more than 60 civilians reportedly killed in incidents throughout the country heading into the weekend. Since it began 11 weeks ago, Christians have been participating in the reform agitation along with Syrians from other minority groups, including many from President Bashar al-Assad’s own Alawite community.

Nevertheless, there is a persistent public perception that Christians favour the Ba’ath party regime of Assad.

Latin auxiliary of Jerusalem, Bishop William Shomali shared his concerns and those of all the faithful in the Holy Land. “The experience of Iraq [could] be for us a paradigm,” he said, recalling the mass exodus of Christians from their ancient homeland, beginning two decades ago and intensifying in the period of violent instability that followed the ouster of the late dictator, Saddam Hussein. “We are afraid in some way, of such results,” said Bishop Shomali, adding, “we are waiting, we are praying that the situation of Iraq is not repeated in Syria, for example.”

Bishop Shomali spoke to Vatican Radio on the sidelines of an international gathering of delegates to the Pontifical Commission for International Eucharistic Congresses from over 70 countries, who were in the capital of IEC 2012 host country, Ireland, this week.

Listen to Chris Altieri's report: