Cardinal Tauran: Solidarity with Syrians

(Vatican Radio)Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is one of the Synod Fathers who will form part of a delegation that is expected to travel to Syria next week. Making the announcement of the visit on Tuesday, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State said the group was being sent by the Holy Father in order to express solidarity with the Syrian population.

Speaking from the Synod on Wednesday Cardinal Tauran said the delegation’s trip to Damascus will have three dimensions. First of all there will be an expression of “human solidarity towards people who are suffering, we think for example the elderly… the sick, the poor.”

The second dimension is spiritual solidarity which the Cardinal says is for the families “and those who are suffering and we rejoice with those who are rejoicing in this moment of great trial for the Catholic and the Christians in general in Syria.

Cardinal Tauran adds that the delegation will also be there to offer encouragement to those who are trying to help find a solution to the conflict. “We must help those who are in charge of society and the general political landscape.”

Forming the delegation will also be Cardinal Laurent Mosengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa; Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York ; Archbishop Fabio Suescun Mutis, Military Ordinary of Colombia; and Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang, Bishop of Phat Diem. Listen