Pope Francis extended his greetings to the people during the weekly general audience held in Paul VI hall at the Vatican on December 11, 2024. — Reuters
Pope Francis urged for 'mutual respect' among various religions in Syria on Wednesday, just three days after the country's long-standing president, Bashar Al Assad, was overthrown by rebels in a swift offensive. 'I pray... that the Syrian people may live in peace and security in their beloved land and that the different religions may walk together in friendship and mutual respect for the good of that nation, which has endured so many years of war,' said Francis, the leader of the world's Catholics. At this 'delicate moment' in Syria's history, 'I hope that a political solution will be reached that, without further conflicts and divisions, will responsibly promote the stability and unity of the country,' he stated during his weekly audience at the Vatican. Syria's new transitional prime minister, Mohammad Al Bashir, has emphasized the need for 'stability and calm' in the country.
Assad fled Syria as an Islamist-led opposition alliance took control of the capital, Damascus, over the weekend, marking the end of five decades of harsh rule by his family. Syria's Christian community generally supported the Assad government since the beginning of the civil war in 2011. The president, who belongs to the minority Alawite sect, positioned himself as a protector of minorities. The community faced significant hardships when the Daesh group seized large parts of Syria. Daesh targeted Christians, engaging in mass kidnappings and the destruction of churches, before being defeated in 2019. Syria's nearly 14-year civil war resulted in the deaths of 500,000 people and forced half the country to flee their homes, with millions seeking refuge abroad.
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