Scottish Catholic Observer

A Syrian nun in Aleppo told the SCO the city is ‘in God’s hands’ after government forces retook the last rebel holdouts in it’s Eastern suburbs following four years of fighting.

Sr Annie Demerjian, a member of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary who lives in Western Aleppo helping victims of the conflict, said on December 13 the conflict ‘may not be over’ and that she hopes that ‘peace comes to Aleppo; that the fighting is over.’

Pope Francis this week wrote a special letter to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, delivered by Cardinal Mario Zenari, the papal nuncio to Syria, begging him to do everything possible to end the war in his country, to protect civilians and to ensure humanitarian agencies can deliver emergency aid to the people. There were reports of heavy violence as Assad’s forces retook the last rebel held areas of the city in the East. According to estimates by the Aleppo branch of the Syrian Red Crescent, 20-50,000 have fled to Government controlled west Aleppo over the last few weeks.

“Yesterday, we were told there was a big offensive that the army took control of the west and east of the city,” Sr Annie said. “We pray for those stuck in eastern Aleppo.”

Healing

Sr Annie said that no matter what happened next, Aleppo would need years of healing. “It’s been five years. There are so many burdens. No one has worked for five years. So many have left. So many houses are empty. Every house in Syria has a story of sadness, a story of loss. We are in God’s hands and we pray that peace will come to Syria at last.”

The nun, whose work in Aleppo is supported by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, said she and her fellow sisters were continuing to help the people of the city, giving out thousands of jackets and pairs of jeans to help people stay warm through the winter.

Papal appeal

On Monday, the Vatican confirmed the news of Cardinal Zenari’s meeting with President Assad, saying in a statement that ‘in naming Archbishop Mario Zenari to the College of Cardinals, the Holy Father sought to show a particular sign of affection for the beloved Syrian people, so sorely tried in recent years.’

“In a letter sent through the new cardinal,” the Vatican statement said, “Pope Francis expressed again his appeal to Assad and to the international community for an end to the to the violence.” The statement called for a ‘peaceful resolution of hostilities, condemning all forms of extremism and terrorism from whatever quarter they may come.’

The Pope also asked Assad ‘to ensure that international humanitarian law is fully respected with regard to the protection of the civilians and access to humanitarian aid.’

After reciting the Angelus prayer on December 11 with people in St Peter’s Square, the Pope said that he is close in prayer to the people of Aleppo.

“We must not forget that Aleppo is a city and that there are people there: families, children, elderly, sick,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have become used to the war and destruction, but we must not forget that Syria is a country full of history, culture and faith. We cannot allow this to be negated by war, which is a pile of abuse and falsity.”

On Sunday, Aleppo’s Jesuit monastery was hit although nobody was injured in the explosion. A vigil Mass that was due to take place there had been moved to a different church.

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—This story ran in full in the December 16 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.