Vatican condemns escalating violence in Syria at UN

June 2, 2012: The Delegation of the Holy See strongly condemns the escalating acts of violence in Syria and in particular the recent killings in Houla. This massacre of innocents, including numerous children, is particularly heinous and a cause of great sorrow for the Holy Father and the entire Catholic community, as well as the international community which has expressed its unanimous condemnation. Fundamental human rights are violated and the risk of further escalation of the conflict requires a determined engagement of all parties to dialogue with greater urgency, said Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva. He was speaking at a special Session of United Nations on ‘The deteriorating human rights situation in the Syria and the recent killings in Houla on 1^st June.
On the occasion he renewed the repeated appeals of Pope Benedict XVI to end the violence and the bloodshed, and for ‘an immediate commitment to the path of respect, dialogue and reconciliation, as called for by the international community’.
More than ever the Holy See calls upon all leaders of the various religions, through prayer and mutual collaboration, to commit themselves to promoting peace for the good of the whole community, Archbishop Tomasi said. He called upon all believers to pray and work for peace and asked Christians to persevere in being bridges of reconciliation among the various communities in the country. Violence will only lead to further violence, death and destruction. The peace plan should be accepted and implemented and the collaboration of the world community should offer fair and constructive assistance that may lead to confidence and a future of peace, Archbishop Tomasi added.