New York City, N.Y., May 16, 2013 / 23:06 pm
The apostolic nuncio to the United Nations urged those with influence over the warring parties in Syria to encourage them to end the violence and seek peace.
Archbishop Francis A. Chullikatt, who heads the Holy See's permanent observer mission to the U.N., said the Vatican desires to see Syria's return to "that peaceful and harmonious coexistence which has been the hallmark of Syrian society for centuries."
He cited Pope Francis' words from his Urbi et Orbi Easter Sunday message: "How much blood has been shed! And how much suffering must there still be before a political solution to the crisis will be found?"
The archbishop spoke May 15 about a U.N. resolution on preventing armed conflict in Syria, where the Syrian government and rebel groups are fighting for control of the country. The conflict has killed an estimated 80,000 people and displaced several million more.