Vatican City, May 1, 2016 / 06:36 am
Pope Francis on Sunday decried the resurgence of violence in Syria in recent days, especially in Aleppo, and renewed the call to bring about peace through dialogue.
"I receive with deep sorrow the tragic news coming from Syria, about the spiral of violence that continues to aggravate the already desperate humanitarian situation of the country," the pontiff said May 1 after reciting the Regina Caeli address in St. Peter's Square.
Citing in particular the nation's largest city Aleppo, which has borne the brunt of the most recent violence, the Pope remembered the "innocent victims," namely the children, the sick, and "those who with great sacrifice have pledged to help others."
"I urge all parties to the conflict to respect the cessation of hostilities and to strengthen the ongoing dialogue, the only path that leads to peace," he said.