Rome, Italy, Sep 6, 2012 / 12:12 pm
The Italian Jesuit who was exiled from Syria after criticizing President Bashar al-Assad says he is still hopeful for the country's future despite its descent into war.
"I see hope in the fact that the Syrian people are very attached to their country, very attached to the fact that they are a mosaic country. People want to keep that. They are committed to pluralism," said Jesuit Father Paolo Dall'Oglio in an interview with CNA.
Fr. Dall'Oglio spent over 30 years in Syria as part of the Deir Mar Musa Monastic Community. Throughout that time he was a champion for interfaith dialogue in the majority-Muslim country, where Christians make up around 10 percent of the population.
Since being exiled, he has watched in horror as fighting has spread throughout Syria.