Syria: Faced with escalation of violence at the beginning of Advent, they cry out for the gift of peace

Amid the escalation of violence by rebel groups against the Syrian government in the last days of November, a Catholic missionary priest in the country cries out for “the gift of peace.”

In statements To the Vatican agency Fides, Father Hugo Alaniz, missionary priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), said that “in this time preceding Christmas we ask for a very strong message of hope for us.”

“We also ask for the gift of peace, and we do it together with our families and the families who pray for us, together with those who help us: our family, friends, benefactors, both spiritual and material,” he said.

Since November 27, the civil war that has shaken Syria for more than 13 years has intensified, with new attacks by rebels facing the government of President Bashar al-Assad. On November 30, according to Associated Pressthe insurgents — led by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — took over most of Aleppo, Syria’s most populous city.

The Syrian government, together with its ally Russia, has launched a counteroffensive, with aerial bombardments in different areas taken by the rebels.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based opposition group to the Syrian government, Indian This Sunday, since November 27, 372 people have died due to the clashes, including 48 civilians.

Pope Francis asks to pray for Syria

This noon in the Vatican, Pope Francis called on the faithful from around the world to pray for Syria, “where unfortunately the war has reignited, causing many victims.”

“I am very close to the Church in Syria. Let’s pray!” he encouraged.

May the Child Jesus “give us strength”

In his statements to Fides, Father Alaniz encouraged us to ask “the Lord of Peace to grant us the gift of peace. Let us ask the Child Jesus to give us the strength to always remain in hope, that hope to which we have been called.”

“Let us not let all these sufferings and trials kill the hope in our hearts,” he said.

Catholic bishops will not abandon Aleppo

According to collect the Italian agency ANSA, the Syrian Catholic bishops of the Latin, Maronite, Chaldean and Melkite rites decided not to abandon Aleppo.

Mons. Hanna Jallouf, Latin Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo, assured on November 30 that “today we have all decided to remain with our people,” and noted that after touring convents and various Catholic communities he was able to verify that “everyone is well, thank God.” .

There is fear among the population, he acknowledged, that “robberies and violence” will occur, and noted that a curfew in which the city was under led residents to stay inside their homes “to be as safe as possible.” ”.

The greatest fear, he said, “is returning to the situation of the past, with violence, lack of food, water and essentials,” as in the first years of the civil war.

For his part, Bishop Joseph Tobji, Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo, said that after the capture of the city by rebel militias “now everything is silent. The city is as if suspended. And no one says anything.”

“After the fighting, there is no bloodshed for now, thank God. The army abandoned Aleppo and the city is now in the hands of the opposition militias,” he said, adding that “we live in insecurity.”