Pope Francis Says He always Prays for Peace in Syria

ROME, (ST)- Pope Francis of Vatican has stressed that he always prays for Syria and for peace to be restored to the country.

The Pope made the remarks during his recent meeting with some 600 volunteers from the Italian Red Cross in addition to 16 heads of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies from all over the world, including Head of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) Khaled Hboubati.

“The hands that seek alleviating people’s suffering must be stronger,” said his holiness Pope Francis, thanking all members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement for their great efforts in the humanitarian field.

 On his part, Hboubati pointed to the richness and diversity of the Syrian society, stressing that these characteristics make this society strong and distinguished.

Francesco Rocca, Head of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), regretted the escalation of conflicts and the killing of civilians as well as the workers in the humanitarian domain.

He pointed out that 65 volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent have lost their lives since the beginning of the crisis in Syria while doing their humanitarian duty of assisting those in need.

Hamda Mustafa