Vatican City, Oct 17, 2012 / 15:41 pm
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York will be part of a papal delegation to Syria that will voice "fraternal solidarity" with the Syrian people and encourage peace amid the country's violent conflict.
The Holy See's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said Oct. 16 that the world's Catholic bishops cannot be "mere spectators of a tragedy such as the one that is now unfolding in Syria."
He said a political answer is "the only possible solution to the crisis." The Syrian population and displaced persons have endured "immense suffering."
He said the delegation will travel to Damascus next week.