Vatican City, Dec 2, 2018 / 05:50 am
Pope Francis Sunday lit a candle, a symbol of hope, to pray for the children affected by violence and war in Syria and across the Middle East.
"Advent is a time of hope. At this moment I would like to make the hope for peace of the children of Syria, beloved Syria, mine," the pope prayed on Dec. 2, the first Sunday of Advent.
From a window inside the Apostolic Palace, he lit a large pillar candle, decorated by a craftsman in Damascus with the photos of around 40 Syrian children. "This flame of hope and many flames of hope disperse the darkness of war!" he said.
Pope Francis prayed that Christians will be helped to stay in Syria and the Middle East "as witnesses of mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation," and noted his desire that the "flame of hope" would reach every person who is suffering from conflict around the world.