Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aleppo (Agenzia Fides) - "For two days Aleppo has been paralyzed by the fighting. The situation is very serious. We hear gunshots all the time. People are locked in the house, offices are closed, business is at a stand still. The clashes are approaching the Christian areas and would be a serious danger to the faithful. People do not want war and violence: may the world help us to find peace!": Is a heartfelt testimony to Fides by Fr. Jules Baghdassarian, Greek-catholic priest of Aleppo and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Syria.
The Director tells Fides: "The fighters of the Free Syrian Army want to take heart of Aleppo and in the heart there are churches and Christian homes. The revolutionary armed gangs are predominantly Islamic, we have eyewitnesses to this, and Christians are afraid of violence. The people of Aleppo do not want the revolution, they love peace. Christian and Muslim families are tired of violence, because life has been very hard in the past year."
Even from a humanitarian perspective, the situation is critical: "We already have many refugees from Homs" he continues. "The Pontifical Mission Societies have welcomed and we are providing assistance to 30 families from Homs. The churches are very committed to humanitarian aid to refugees, who continue to increase. We have great need of aid."
"The Catholic Bishops – says Fr. Jules - will meet tomorrow in the Greek-catholic Archbishopric and I believe they will launch an appeal for a cease-fire and peace.
We think that politics should do something for peace and reconciliation. As Christians, our hope is reconciliation. We ask the international community and the European Union to help us find peace, not to foment war." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2012)
