Syrian refugees

The Latest

Majed, a Syrian refugee living in Zahlé, Lebanon.

Here’s what a young Syrian refugee is hoping for this Christmas

Dec 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

‘I have become a refugee, just like the Child Jesus,’ says Majed. Read more

Archbishop John Jihad Battah, Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Damascus, Syria, at the Vatican. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez.

Catholic archbishop of Damascus appeals for Syrians to return home

Feb 5, 2021

By Courtney Mares

As the 10th anniversary of the start of the Syrian war approaches, the Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Damascus is appealing... Read more

The statue of Our Lady of Lebanon at Harissa, Lebanon.

Christians play vital role in Middle East – the view from Lebanon

Oct 24, 2017

The Church in Lebanon is working to aid the 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, the great majority of whom... Read more

Chilean cardinal offers warm welcome to Syrian refugees

Oct 17, 2017

Last week in Santiago, government officials, representatives of the Catholic Church in Chile, and international organizations welcomed the first of... Read more

Syrian refugee girl.

Trump wants to halt refugee intake – and Catholic leaders are worried

Jan 25, 2017

By Matt Hadro

Amid reports of an imminent executive order to halt most refugee resettlement in the U.S., one international Catholic charitable group... Read more

Corridori Umanitari event at the Fiumicinio airport in Rome, Italy, where refugees were welcomed on Oct. 24, 2016.

Syrian refugees arrive to Rome with the hope of a better life

Oct 26, 2016

By Elise Harris

This week 130 Syrian refugees landed in Rome as part of a pilot program aimed at providing safe passage for... Read more

A young boy refugee in Erbil, Iraq.

A priest and his love for Syrian refugees

Sep 27, 2016

The needs of Father David Bedrossian’s parish are unique. While many priests grapple with budgetary concerns and a desire to... Read more

A young Syrian refugee at school in Ramtha, Jordan on Oct. 27, 2014.

The US has resettled 10,000 Syrian refugees in the last year

Aug 31, 2016

By Matt Hadro

As the Obama administration announced Monday that the U.S. had met its goal of accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees in fiscal... Read more

Pope Francis eats lunch with 21 Syrian refugees in the Casa Santa Marta Aug. 11, 2016.

Pope Francis invites 21 Syrian refugees to lunch

Aug 11, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Thursday Pope Francis invited 21 Syrian refugees to join him for lunch at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa... Read more

Al and Yousef Astfan are brothers from Syria who reunited in Krakow at World Youth Day after three years.

Syrian brothers reunite at WYD, and ask the world to pray

Jul 27, 2016

By Kate Veik, Kevin J. Jones

Among the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at World Youth Day are two brothers, recently reunited.  Read more

A Sryian refugee family prepares to board the papal plane from Lesbos to Rome with Pope Francis April 16, 2016.

Vatican lends hand in welcoming new group of Syrian refugees to Rome

Jun 17, 2016

By Elise Harris

Since 2015, when the refugee crisis reached a fever pitch in Europe, five Syrian families fleeing civil war have found... Read more

Child labor, sexual abuse, death - the plight of Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Jan 14, 2016

By Matt Hadro

The life of a refugee is rarely easy. But it is particularly difficult for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, most of... Read more

Migrants in Europe.

Compassion vs. security: What to do with Syrian refugees?

Dec 21, 2015

By Matt Hadro

As the U.S. plans to increase its intake of Syrian refugees to 10,000 next year, Americans – including Catholics –... Read more

Jordanian troops and UNHCR officials help bring Syrian refugees to Jordan's Zaatari refugee camp.

They fled terrorists, too – why Catholics are resettling a refugee family in Indiana

Dec 9, 2015

Efforts to resettle a Syrian refugee family in Indiana are part of a long Catholic tradition that saves lives, the... Read more

Migrants in Europe.

Compassion vs. security: What to do with Syrian refugees?

Nov 24, 2015

By Matt Hadro

As the U.S. plans to increase its intake of Syrian refugees to 10,000 next year, Americans – including Catholics –... Read more

Migrants in Europe.

Aid for Syrian refugee crisis falls far short, Congress told

Oct 22, 2015

Although numerous countries and organizations are working together and putting billions of dollars into relief efforts, “the scale of suffering... Read more

A young Syrian refugee at school in Ramtha, Jordan.

An exodus with little hope – report finds crisis of unaccompanied minors fleeing Syria

Mar 10, 2015

By Matt Hadro

The countries neighboring Syria are swamped with millions of refugees from its civil war which creates special risks for young... Read more

Migrants at Lampedusa, who flee such situations as the instability in Libya and war and terror in Iraq and Syria.

Political instability, war, and terrorism know no borders – Vatican official

Feb 4, 2015

By Andrea Gagliarducci

As the Vatican's Secretary of State addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean on Monday regarding the shared challenge of... Read more

The hands of a Syrian refugee woman.

Debt, illness, discrimination – Syrian refugees struggle in Lebanon

Dec 17, 2014

By Kevin J. Jones

After losing their homes and their livelihoods, Syrian refugees in Lebanon are now finding their plight worsened by the financial... Read more

Syrian refugee and Caritas Jordan volunteer Amer Fahd Al Naser, his wife Noor and their sons at their apartment in Jordan, Oct. 27, 2014.

Amid Syrian refugee relief, Christians and Muslims find fellowship

Nov 20, 2014

By Kevin J. Jones

A Syrian Muslim refugee aided by the Catholic relief agency Caritas Jordan now volunteers to help other refugees, saying the... Read more