On Tuesday, Father Federico Lombardi, the Director of the Holy See Press Office,
issued the following statement on the tragedy in Houla, Syria:
The
recent massacre in Houla, where more than one hundred people, including many children,
lost their lives, has distressed and worried the Holy Father and the entire Catholic
community, as well as the international community, who have unanimously condemned
the incident.
In renewing its call for the cessation of all forms of violence,
the Holy See urges the parties concerned and the international community to spare
no effort to resolve the crisis through dialogue and reconciliation. The leaders and
believers of different religions, too, though prayer and mutual collaboration, are
called to make great efforts to promote the longed-for peace, for the good of the
whole population.