Syria Archives

Syrian priest captures Aleppo’s agony amid war, poverty and COVID

Mar 1, 2021

In a Lenten letter to the faithful Father Ibrahim Alsabagh, a parish priest in Aleppo, Syria, recalls the suffering of the local community after ten years of war, a crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, in a country that has virtually no hospitals working at full capacity.

By Inés San Martín

Syrian archbishop calls on the West to lift sanctions against his country

Jan 28, 2021

In a message released on Thursday, the Melkite archbishop of war-torn Aleppo in Syria is calling on the international community to lift the sanctions imposed on the country, arguing that they do nothing but make life “a little bit more painful” every day.

By Inés San Martín

Mideast church leaders, others urge Biden to lift Syrian sanctions

Jan 22, 2021

In a joint letter, a group of church leaders and international figures appealed to U.S. President Joe Biden to lift economic sanctions imposed on the Syrian people and “to help Syrians alleviate a humanitarian crisis that threatens to trigger a new wave of instability in the Middle East.”

By Doreen Abi Raad

COVID-19 pandemic increasing persecution of Christians, report claims

Jan 14, 2021

Anti-Christian persecution is on the rise, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report.

By Inés San Martín

Middle East Catholic patriarchs urge Christmas hope amid despair

Dec 28, 2020

Amid suffering and despair, further darkened by the coronavirus pandemic, Catholic patriarchs of the Middle East urged their faithful at Christmastime to hold on to hope.

By Doreen Abi Raad

Christmas still a season of hope and joy in Syria

Dec 21, 2020

Despite the “raging pandemic,” and the multitude of contradictions and trials the world faces today, Christmas is still a season of hope and rejoice, according to the archbishop of war-torn Aleppo, in Syria.

By Inés San Martín

Cardinal says media has forgotten about Syria

Dec 15, 2020

Cardinal Mario Zenari, papal representative in Syria, warns that despite the war that afflicted this country for the past decade being seemingly over, there are several “bombs” still going off in the country, including that of extreme poverty and an exodus of the brightest minds to other nations.

By Inés San Martín

Vatican, Catholic aid agencies work to help Christians return to Iraq

Dec 11, 2020

With months to go still until his March 5-8 trip to Iraq, Pope Francis on Thursday began shaping his message, urging a network of Catholic charities to help Christians who have fled the region to return home of they want to do so.

By Inés San Martín