Pope Francis: Peaceful Solution for Syria, Defend Christian Minorities

Local Editor

Pope Francis has asked leaders of the world's 20 largest economies to "lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution" to the Syrian war and promote instead a "peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiation".

The Pope's words appeared in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, host of the G20 summit in St Petersburg, Russia. The letter was dated September 4 and released by the Vatican on Thursday, as US lawmakers prepared to vote on President Barack Obama's proposal for a military attack on Syria.

The Pope's foreign minister met ambassadors to underscore the Vatican's concerns over the war, including the fate of Syria's Christian minority and the danger posed by extremists among opponents to the government of President Bashar Assad.

"Without peace, there can be no form of economic development," the Pope wrote. "Violence never begets peace, the necessary condition for development."

Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, made a similar appeal for dialogue and negotiation in his remarks to more than 70 ambassadors accredited to the Holy See..

Archbishop Mamberti also called for defending Syria's "minorities, including the Christians", and their right to "profess publicly their own religion and contribute to the common good" in the Muslim-majority country.

Christian leaders inside Syria have frequently expressed fears over their fate in case Assad's government should fall.

"A reason for particular worry is the growing presence in Syria of extremist groups, often coming from other countries," Archbishop Mamberti said. "Hence the importance of exhorting the population and also the opposition groups to keep their distance from such extremists and openly and clearly oppose terrorism."

The Vatican has also released more details about a prayer vigil for peace tomorrow, September 7, that Pope Francis will lead in St Peter's Square.

Source: Websites, edited by website team