EU bishops have released a press release conveying deep concern over the continuing suffering of the Syrian people, particularly the plight of Christian communities.
In a press release, Mgr Mariano Crociata, President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), called on the EU and the international community to take decisive measures to guard the vulnerable and facilitate long-term peacebuilding in Syria.
Syria has been engulfed in a humanitarian catastrophe for over a decade. What began in 2011 as a part of the Arab Spring, with protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian rule, quickly escalated right into a brutal civil war. The conflict has been driven by sectarian divisions, foreign interventions, and the rise of extremist groups like ISIS, leaving the country in ruins.
With lots of of 1000’s dead and thousands and thousands displaced, Syria now faces one in every of the worst refugee crises in modern history.
Emphasising the opposed effects on Christian communities, Mgr Crociata stated, “The people of Syria, no matter their religious or ethnic background, have faced unimaginable hardships, including displacement, poverty and the destruction of their homes, livelihoods, and communities.
“In particular, I wish to attract attention to the plight of Christian communities in Syria, which have been an integral and essential a part of the history and culture of the region for hundreds of years and at the moment are struggling to take care of their historical continuity of their homeland.
“The erosion of Christian communities could be a tragic loss not just for Syria but additionally for the steadiness of the region and the world.”
In response, COMECE has urged the EU and the international community to acknowledge the vulnerabilities of Christian communities and other at-risk groups, including women, children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and non secular minorities.
Accordingly, the organisation has called for each immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term strategies for peacebuilding, reconstruction, and reconciliation, which include supporting economic recovery, fostering equal citizenship and promoting dialogue.
COMECE also reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to supporting Syrian refugees and displaced individuals. It urged the EU and its member states to create conditions that allow for the secure and voluntary return of refugees to their homes.
Concluding his statement, Mgr Crociata said, “As bishops of the European Union, we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Syria, especially the Christian communities who’ve borne witness to their faith in Our Lord within the face of immense adversity.
“We call on all people of goodwill to wish for peace in Syria and to work tirelessly for a future where all Syrians can live in freedom, security, and hope.”
