Peace and hope: Christians in Syria pray for a happy Christmas

Christians are currently in great fear in Syria, as the Syrian-Catholic Archbishop Jacques Mourad reports. After falling the Assad regime, the fears of Islamist militias have grown. Mourad, who acts as an archbishop of the city of Homs, demands in a podcast by the Institute for Theology and Peace that people keep a positive view to enable peaceful coexistence. He also describes the hope of Christians to celebrate Christmas in peace, while they pray intensively for an end to an end of the Israeli attacks on Syria, as well as kathpress reported.

At the same time, the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) expresses persistent concerns about the Situation in Syria. After 53 years of authoritarian rule, the religious and ethnic minorities are in an insecure situation. In a press release, the COMECE urges the new regime, sectarianism and extremism and recognize the unique contributions of the minorities. They emphasize the need to protect prayer and cult sites and to enable the people who were driven out within the country. In addition, the bishops confirm their solidarity with the believers in this difficult phase, in which the ongoing conflict in Syria has caused immeasurable suffering, such as Vaticannews communicated.

a call to peace

Archbishop Mourad has had painful experiences even after being captured by Islamists for five months in 2015. His statements not only reflect the concerns of Christians, but also the hope that peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims can be restored. The EU bishops reaffirm that they follow developments in Syria carefully and pray for a peaceful and orderly future in the country. COMECE President Mariano Crociata is impressed by the steadfastness of the Christian communities that keep their faith alive even in difficult times