He said he is continuously praying for those in Syria and appealed to all the parties in the conflict to work for the good of Syria and find a political solution because "one day it may be too late."
In lieu of the delegation, Pope Benedict has sent Cardinal Robert Sarah as his emissary to Lebanon. Cardinal Sarah is in charge of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" for Promoting Human and Christian Development, which provides humanitarian relief in the Pope's name.
Cardinal Sarah will be in Lebanon Nov. 7-10, where he will deliver $1 million in aid from the Pope for victims of the violence. His mission includes meeting with leaders of the different Churches present in Syria, as well chairing a meeting of Catholic charitable agencies in order to coordinate their efforts to aid Syrians.
Michael LaCivita, the communications director for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, told CNA Nov. 7 that the "idea of coordinating efforts is a very good idea because there's strength in doing that as opposed to having competing efforts."
The association is an agency of the Holy See that is running relief efforts on the ground in Syria. It is working directly with the different Churches in that multi-confessional country, the Catholic Latin and Melkite Rites as well as the Syrian Orthodox.
"It's local Churches that help us determine what needs are, and so we work to empower them to do so," LaCivita said.