This morning, Pope Francis met with Archbishop Mario Zenari, the apostolic nuncio of Syria. The Italian prelate updated the Holy Father on the continuing civil war that has rocked the country since 2011.
Shortly after his visit with the Pope, Archbishop Zenari spoke with Vatican Radio on his meeting, which he described as a “spiritual, extraordinary event.”
The archbishop described Syria as a “country martyred by war,” saying that he related to the Holy Father the anxieties and sufferings of those living there.
“The Pope follows and carries in his heart these sufferings, which I would say, he follows regularly,” he told Vatican Radio.
I came to him because I realize that, even at an international level, unfortunately the conflict in Syria – like many similar cases – is going to be forgotten and this hurts a lot; to see that this suffering, not only of a few but of an entire nation, this tragedy can be forgotten.”
Archbishop Zenari went on to say that the Holy Father encouraged him by his closeness with the suffering Syrian population. The Pope, he continued, asked him to relay his closeness to the country.
“I will return with this cargo of sympathy and solidarity, as well as with his closeness that he has entrusted me to bring to the whole population that is suffering this tragedy,” he said.
Concluding his interview, Archbishop Zenari appealed to the faithful to pray for God’s help to save the Syrian people from further suffering. (J.A.E.)
