Syria, Nuncio: spiraling violence

The Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, Archbishop Mario Zenari, spoke with Vatican Radio about the ongoing violence in Syria, especially in the city of Homs. “There is a spiral of violence, violence that is increasing day-by-day,” he said, adding, “the people are paying for it in suffering, beginning with all the poor innocents,” who have fallen victim. “It is something incredible, just awful: children are under the gun sights in Homs, for example, where they are shooting at anything that moves – even at a child who might be carrying only the grocery shopping.” Asked about the possibilities for reopening dialogue, Archbishop Zenari said, “It is very, very difficult,” and that he believes that the possibility of reopening dialogue, “becomes a more complicated matter every day.” The Nuncio to Syria also told us that the Christian population thus far has been spared some of the targeted violence that has been perpetrated against minority communities in other Arab nations since the so-called “Arab Spring” began. “Christians,” he said, “are at the service of Syria, they offer their spirit of dialogue, of reconciliation and of forgiveness.”

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