Pope says Syria, Libya agreements raise hopes of peace
Francis told crowds he was thinking of ‘beloved Syria.’ expressing his ‘eager approval of the agreement the international community has just reached’
Pope Francis welcomed on Sunday two agreements aimed at ending the civil war in Syria and forming a national unity government in Libya.
Francis, who turned 79 on Thursday, told crowds around the Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square he was thinking of “beloved Syria (and) expressing my eager approval of the agreement the international community has just reached.”
The United Nations Security Council veto powers agreed a draft resolution last week to endorse an international roadmap for a peace process in Syria, where almost five years of civil war has killed more than 250,000 people.
The Argentine pontiff called for continued peace efforts for Syria and praised the work of negotiators in Libya, where warring factions signed a U.N.-brokered deal on Thursday intended to bring stability and help to combat a growing ISIS presence.
“The commitment to form a national unity government, taken on recently by those involved, encourages hope for the future,” Francis said.
-
Thousands flock to Bethlehem for Christmas
Pope Francis delivered a special message to Iraqi refugees saying ‘they were like Jesus’ Middle East -
Pope Francis to address refugee crisis in U.N. speech
Pope Francis is expected to focus on the need for peace in a conflict-torn world facing the biggest refugee crisis since World War II World News -
Syrian refugee family embraces Christmas spirit in Germany
The four children of the Habashieh family, Muslim Syrian refugees, wander from stand to stand, looking with big eyes at all the mouthwatering delicacies Features -
Protesters with rifles rally outside Texas mosque
Protesters armed with rifles, have rallied outside a suburban Dallas mosque against Islamist violence and Syrian refugee resettlement World News -
Merkel wants to ‘drastically reduce’ refugee arrivals
Germany would help improve Syrian refugee camps in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, and strengthening control of the EU’s outer borders World News -
Jordan camps for Syria refugees get community police patrols
Jordan hosts about 630,000 Syrian refugees, including about 100,000 in camps Middle East -
Actor Edward Norton raises $425,000 for Syrian refugee
The refugee also said that he is suffering from stomach cancer that has not been properly treated due to lack of means Variety