Cardinal Parolin hopes for a future of respect in Syria

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, expressed his desire that in Syria “there be a future of respect for all” while the formation of a new government is debated after the fall of President Bashar al Assad.

The Vatican authority made reference to the new scenario that is opening up in Syria during a meeting held at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan (Italy) on dialogue with the Islamic world.

After the arrival of the insurgents, a rebel group with origins in Al Qaeda called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Levant Liberation Organization), 50 years of rule by the Assad family has ended.

This situation threatens to favor the expansion of fundamentalist groups such as the Islamic State (ISIS), although for the moment Abu Mohamed al Jolani, in charge of leading the transition in the country, has indicated that his intention is to collaborate with all Syrian groups and guarantee the protection of minorities, including Christian communities.

This was referred to by Cardinal Parolin, who declared that “we have received some prior warnings about respect for Christian communities,” although he specified that it is still too early to anticipate.

In this sense, he pointed out that the hope “is that those who take power also try to create a regime open to all and respectful of all,” he reported. Vatican News.

On the sidelines of the meeting titled Studies for dialogue. Al Issa Research Prize for Arab-Islamic StudiesCardinal Parolin noted in statements to journalists that “we are all concerned about what is happening in Syria, also about the speed with which these events developed.”

“It is difficult to understand what is happening, it impresses me that a regime that seemed so strong, so solid, has been completely swept away in a short space of time,” he added.

Although the Vatican does not have a formal role in what is happening in this country located in the heart of the Middle East, he stressed that the Holy See continues “its work of dialogue and diplomacy.”

Regarding the event held at the Catholic University of Milan, he stressed that he is “very happy” that an institution like this “has promoted this initiative that allows us to understand each other, deepen mutual knowledge and mutual collaboration.”