Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI has again called for peace in Syria, and said the situation there is now so dangerous he cannot send his planned peace mission of synod fathers to the country.

“I continue to follow with great concern the tragic situation of violent conflict in Syria, where the fighting has not ceased and each day the toll of victims rises, accompanied by the untold suffering of many civilians, especially those who have been forced to abandon their homes,” Pope Benedict said after his Angelus today.

The Pope said he was bitterly disappointed he would not be able to send the planned delegation to Syria.

“As a sign of my own solidarity and that of the whole Church for the Syrian people, as well as our spiritual closeness to the Christian communities in that country, I had hoped to send a Delegation of Synod Fathers to Damascus,” he said.  “Unfortunately, due to a variety of circumstances and developments, it was not possible to carry out this initiative as planned, and so I have decided to entrust a special mission to Cardinal Robert Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.”

The Pope said Cardinal Robert Sarah would carry his mission of peace to the war-torn region.

“From today until November 10, he will be in Lebanon, where he will meet the pastors and faithful of the Churches present in Syria,” the Pope said. “He will visit a number of refugees from that country and will chair a meeting of Catholic charitable agencies to coordinate efforts, as the Holy See has urgently requested, to provide assistance to the Syrian people, within and outside the country.”

The Holy Father also issued a final plea for all men of violence in Syria to lay down their arms.

“As I make my prayer to God, I renew my invitation to the parties in conflict, and to all those who have the good of Syria at heart, to spare no effort in the search for peace and to pursue through dialogue the path to a just coexistence, in view of a suitable political solution of the conflict,” he said. “We must do everything that is possible, because one day it may be too late!”

- Picture shows a Church destroyed during fighting in Syria.

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