Vatican City, Dec 11, 2016 / 07:08 am
During the Angelus for the third Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday, Pope Francis made a special appeal for prayers for the people of Aleppo and Syria, and for all those affected by the recent terrorist attacks which have taken place in places such as Turkey and Egypt.
We must not forget that cities such as Aleppo are made up of people: "families, children, elderly, sick people," he said Dec. 11. "Unfortunately, we have become accustomed to war, to destruction, but we must not forget that Syria is a country full of history, culture and faith."
"We cannot accept that this is denied by the war, which is an accumulation of injustices and falsehoods. I appeal to the commitment of all, because they face a choice of civilization: no to destruction, yes to peace, yes to the people of Aleppo and Syria," he stated after the Angelus in St. Peter's square.
Also praying for the victims of recent terrorist attacks, the Pope said that violence only "sows death and destruction." He expressed a special closeness to Pope Tawadros II, Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and his community.