Fr Lombardi: Pope Francis is praying for the
kidnapped Syrian bishops
The Director of the Vatican Press Office released a
statement on the kidnapping of the Orthodox
bishops in Syria:
"The kidnapping of the two Metropolitan bishops of
Aleppo, Mar Gregorios Ibrahim of the Syriac
Orthodox Church, and Paul Yazigi of the Greek
Orthodox Church of Antioch, and the killing of their
driver whilst they were carrying out a humanitarian
mission, is a dramatic confirmation of the tragic
situation in which the Syrian population and the
Christian communities in Syria are living. The Holy
Father has been informed of this recent, extremely
grave act, which comes on top of the increasing
violence of the past days and a humanitarian
emergency of enormous proportions. Pope Francis
is following the events with deep participation and
he is praying for the health and the liberation of the
two kidnapped bishops. He is also praying so that,
with the support and prayers of all, the Syrian
people may finally see tangible responses to the
humanitarian drama and real hopes of peace and
reconciliation rise on the horizon."