The Latin American Church joins
Pope's appeal for peace in Syria
Destruction in Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus.- AFP |
Latin American Church leaders have joined Pope Francis'
appeal for peace in Syria.
By Linda Bordoni
Echoing the Pope’s call on Sunday to world
leaders to renew efforts to bring peace to Syria, Catholic Church
leaders from across the Latin American continent have voiced their concern and
their appeals
CELAM and Caritas: join the Pope in praying for peace
A statement released on Monday by the Latin American
Episcopal Council (CELAM) and by the Caritas Secretariat for
Latin America and the Caribbean, urges all men and women of goodwill to
unite with the Pope in “promoting moments of prayer, reflection and solidarity
for peace” in the war-ravaged nation.
More than 400,000 people have been killed in the 7 year
conflict which has also caused over 5.6 million to flee the country and 6.1
million internally displaced persons.
“Violence and war are not the solution to the grave problems
of this beautiful and tormented nation” the statement said.
Appeal to the international community
And inviting all faith communities and ordinary citizens to
participate in plight of their Syrian brothers and sisters, the bishops urge
the international community to “set political and economic interests aside” and
to commit to “building peace with justice, and with the understanding that
peace is part of a culture of encounter.”
Peruvian bishops: nothing justifies war
The bishops of Peru’s Episcopal Conference also
published a statement in which they affirm that “nothing justifies war”.
“A shadow of pain and anguish torments men and women of
goodwill across the world. Our people do not want the threat of war. All the
nations of the world are exhausted by the spectre of destruction. We believe in
the dignity of all human life, whatever its faith, nationality or condition” it
said.
The Peruvian bishops conclude recalling the Pope’s words at
an interreligious meeting in Assisi in
2016 when he said “The name of God can never justify violence. Only peace is
holy, and not war!” And they appealed for prayers not only for the innocent
victims of wars, but also for those who make decisions and have the power to
stop them: “may God concede the gift of peace”.
Venezuelan bishops: only dialogue and encounter on the path
to peace
The Justice and Peace Commission of the Venezuelan
Episcopal Conference has invited all “Venezuelans to pray for the
victims, their families, for all Syrian citizens and for those who are charged
with decision- making”, so that “the path to peace” may be undertaken.
“There is no better good for humankind than peace. That’s
why today we participate in the sadness that floods the world before the threat
of an outbreak of hostilities that can only result in a painful loss of human
lives that are precious to God” it said.
The Venezuelan bishops said they are committed – as
Christians – to be builders of God’s Kingdom by ensuring that encounter, hope
and conciliation prevail over conflict.
They concluded their statement with the prayer that “the
Holy Spirit may inspire political leaders to find common spaces in which to
build a kingdom of mercy, forgiveness and peace, as we are called to do as
children of God”.
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