Pope Francis recently wrote
a letter to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to voice his "deep
concern" for the "humanitarian situation in Syria, with
particular reference to the dramatic conditions of the civilian
population at Idlib", Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said
Monday.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolini said
Francis had asked Assad to end the "humanitarian catastrophe" in
Syria.
Vatican News said the pope's letter urged "protection of
civilian life, an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib
Province, concrete initiatives for a safe return of displaced
persons, the release of detainees and access for families to
information regarding their loved ones, and humane conditions
for political prisoners.
"All this and a renewed appeal for a resumption of dialogue
and negotiations with the involvement of the international
community.
These are the concerns and concrete requests contained in a
letter that Pope Francis addressed to Syrian President Bashar
Hafez al-Assad.
The Pope's letter, dated 28 June 2019, was delivered only
hours ago by Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Prefect of the
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
The Cardinal, bearing the missive written in English, was
accompanied by Fr. Nicola Riccardi, O.F.M., Undersecretary of
the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and by
Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Apostolic Nuncio to Syria.
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