While recognizing the grave concerns related to the coronavirus, Pope Francis on March 11, 2020, call on Christians not to forget the suffering of Syrian refugees. He also thank the medical personnel who are caring for the ill.
«In this moment, I would like to address all the sick that have the virus and that suffer the illness and the many that suffer uncertainties about their own sicknesses,» the Pope said during his General Audience broadcast from the Library of the Apostolic Vatican Palace. «My heartfelt thanks to the hospital personnel, the doctors, the nurses, and the volunteers, who in this very difficult moment are next to the people that suffer.
«I thank all the Christians, all the men and women of goodwill that pray for this moment, all united, regardless of the religious tradition to which they belong; my heartfelt thanks for this effort. However, I would not like this pain, this very strong epidemic make us forget the poor Syrians that are suffering at the border between Greece and Turkey: a people suffering for years. They must flee from war, from hunger, from sicknesses. Let us not forget our brothers and sisters, the many children that are suffering there.»
