Bashar Al-Assad Archives

Syrian nun honored by U.S. says Assad is ‘not a dictator’
- Global Church
- April 12, 2017
Salesian Sister Carolin Tahhan Fachakh, from Syria, told reporters she doubts Syrian president ordered a chemical attack against civilians, and called the decision from the Trump administration to bomb an air base a “step back from peace.” On March 29 she received the International Woman of Courage Award from first lady Melania Trump.
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Syrian bishops, other Catholic leaders protest U.S. missile strike
- Global Church
- April 7, 2017
Hours after the United States launched 59 missiles do destroy a military base of the Syrian government, many Catholic leaders, including the bishop of Aleppo, raised their voices in condemnation. Among other things, Catholic leaders in Syria complained that the strike was conducted before an investigation of an alleged chemical attack was completed.
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Are Francis and Trump now at odds over Syria too?
- Analysis
- April 7, 2017
Until this week, it had been assumed that despite obvious differences over issues such as immigration and climate change, the Vatican under Francis and the White House under Trump at least agreed that now is not the time for an overt push for regime change in Syria. In the wake of reports that President Bashar al-Assad has used chemical weapons, that no longer seems the case.
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As Trump takes office, he and Francis share a Russia problem

As Donald Trump becomes the 45th President of the United States, it’s easy to find areas of possible clash with Pope Francis and the Vatican. One point where the two leaders find themselves in more or less the same boat is their Russia policy, which faces blowback from their respective bases.

Syrian president visits Christian orphanage on Christmas Day

In the northern city of Aleppo, Christians celebrated Christmas for the first time in four years with the country’s largest city now under full control of government forces, and President Bashar al-Assad made a visit to a Christian orphanage near Damascus.

Pope makes humanitarian appeal for Syria, as rebels lose Aleppo

Pope Francis has sent a letter to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad appealing for peace and for humanitarian relief. The rebels have recently lost hold of the city of Aleppo and tens of thousands are besieged as the Syrian government marches in, supported by Russia and Iran.