VATICAN CITY, MAY 11, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See today condemned a double bomb attack in the Syrian capital of Damascus. Fifty-five people were killed and over 300 were injured in the attack.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, expressed the Pope’s sadness over the attack. «Having witnessed yesterday’s attacks which brought carnage to the streets of Damascus, we cannot but express our strong condemnation and the heartfelt closeness of the Holy Father and the Catholic community to the families of the victims,» he said.
Syria has been in a state of conflict since 2011 in opposition to the presidency of Bashar al-Assad and the ruling Ba’ath party. Violence has increased throughout the year, and thousands have died in the conflict.
The United Nations sent former Secretary General Kofi Annan as its envoy to Syria to broker a peace deal between al-Assad’s government and opposition forces. Annan developed a six-point peace plan that called for immediate cease-fire.
The Holy See expressed continued support for the proposal. «These attacks should encourage all sides to boost and strengthen their commitment to implementing the Annan Peace Plan, which has been accepted by all sides in the conflict,» said Lombardi. «Yesterday’ attacks also show that the situation in Syria requires a firm and joint commitment on the part of the entire international community to implement that plan and, as soon as possible, to send further observers.»
