Pope Francis sends urgent message to Bashir al-Assad -- Please heed this urgent call to prayer

All Catholics are asked to pray for an end to violence in Syria, and for the protection of the innocent in Aleppo.

The Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Mario Zenari has delivered a letter to Syrian President, Bashir al-Assad. The letter asks Assad to respect the human rights of the people of Aleppo and to strive for peace. As the letter was delivered, the rebel stronghold in Aleppo fell. All Catholics are called to prayer at this dangerous moment.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Rebels have held the eastern part of Aleppo for four years. During the last year, Syrian forces supported by Russia, surrounded and laid siege to the rebel stronghold. Now the rebel defenses have collapsed and Aleppo is being secured by Syrian troops. According to reports from Aleppo, Syrian soldiers are indiscriminately shooting civilians in their homes.

As the Syrian Army started mopping up rebel opposition, Pope Francis sent a letter to Assad, asking him to respect human rights and to bring an end to the violence there. The letter was delivered by the Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Mario Zenari.

The letter asks Assad: "to ensure that international humanitarian law is fully respected with regard to the protection of the civilians and access to humanitarian aid... We must not forget that Aleppo is a city and that there are people there: families, children, elderly, sick... Unfortunately, we have become used to the war and destruction, but we must not forget that Syria is a country full of history, culture and faith. We cannot allow this to be negated by war, which is a pile of abuse and falsity."

The Pope's letter was sent at the same time similar pleas for peace also arrived. The International Red Cross has asked for the people fighting in Aleppo to respect international law and to do all they can to spare civilian lives.

At this time, the situation is chaotic and fluid, but the rebel resistance is ending. The fall of the stronghold marks the greatest victory yet for Assad's regime.

All Catholics are invited to pray for peace in the region and for the protection of the innocent. Please add these intentions to your prayer:

-For the protection of the innocent in Aleppo, may their lives be spared
-For the coming of peace to the Middle East and an end to the conflicts raging there
-For the end of the Islamic State which has built a false, perverted nation based on terror
-For Justice, that all perpetrators of evil receive justice so they may repent and turn away from evil
-For the restoration of the Christian Church in Syria and Iraq, the ancient nursery of Christianity
-For open ears, that all people hear the words of Pope Francis, and the Gospel message of Christ via the New Evangelization
-For the conversion of hearts, which has been requested by Our Lady at Fatima for the salvation of souls

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online