Syrian Civil War

The Latest

A damaged street in Syria after the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquake.

In face of war and natural disasters, Church in Syria seeks to maintain people’s faith

Oct 12, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo Denys Antoine Chahda said the Church is working to “motivate [the people] not to leave... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the AVSI Foundation for the 'Open Hospitals' Project in Syria at the Vatican's Clementine Hall, Sept. 3, 2022.

'Hope is dying' in Syria, nuncio says

Sep 3, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ representative in Syria has said people are losing hope as the Syrian civil war continues and widespread poverty... Read more

Aftermath of the attack on the inauguration of Hagia Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Al-Suqaylabiyah, Syria, July 24, 2022.

Casualties reported after attack on church inauguration in Syria

Jul 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

At least one person was killed and several were injured Sunday in an attack on the inauguration of a Greek... Read more

Pope Francis met with the synod of bishops of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church on June 20, 2022.

Pope Francis discusses ‘survival of Christians in the Middle East’ with Melkite bishops

Jun 20, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The Melkite Greek Catholic Church's synod of bishops is taking place in Rome this week. Read more

Fr. Paolo Dall'Oglio, pictured in Rome Sept. 6, 2012.

Kidnapped priest remembered for his love of Syrian people

Jul 29, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Seven years after his kidnapping in Syria, Fr. Paolo Dall’Oglio was remembered in Rome Wednesday for his love of the... Read more

Image of pilgrims holding a sign supporting those suffering in Idlib, Syria, during the Sunday Angelus, March 8, 2020.

Make Syria ‘priority’ over ‘every other interest’ says Pope Francis

Mar 8, 2020

Pope Francis issued a plea to the international community to halt the violence and mounting death toll in the Syrian... Read more

Photo courtesy of the Franciscan Care Center in Aleppo.

How Franciscans in Syria are helping kids heal from war trauma

Mar 7, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As a wartime missionary priest in Aleppo, Fr. Firas Lufti witnessed the trauma endured by a generation of Syrian children... Read more

Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Ras al-Ayn during the Turkish offensive against Kurdish groups in northeastern Syria, Oct. 17, 2019, as seen from Turkey.

Bishops in Middle East urge prayer for northern Syria

Oct 17, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Bishops in Syria and Iraq have called for worldwide prayer as fighting between Turkish and Kurdish forces further destabilizes northern... Read more

Ancient church in Brad, Syria, before bombing of the site in March 2018. Via Shutterstock.

Syrian churches targeted by Assad forces, new report claims

Sep 9, 2019

By Matt Hadro

A new report alleges that forces loyal to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad are responsible for the majority... Read more

Aleppo, Syria, in 2009.

New campaign to bring food, medicine to Syrian Christians

Jul 17, 2019

The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need has launched a new fundraising campaign to aid Syrian Christians, whose... Read more

People extinguish a fire at the scene of a car bomb explosion outside the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in Qamishli, Syria, July 11, 2019.

Car bomb near church in Syria wounds several

Jul 12, 2019

A car bomb exploded near a Syriac Orthodox church in Qamishli Thursday, injuring about 11 people. It is unclear who... Read more

Aleppo, Syria, in 2009.

Church in Syria suffers 'bleeding wound' of emigration

Apr 16, 2019

The number of Christians in Aleppo, Syria, fell dramatically during the civil war, from 180,000 before the war to 32,000... Read more

Fr. Frans van der Lugt, S.J., who was murdered in Homs, April 7, 2014.

Five years after priest's murder in Syria, Jesuits hope to introduce his cause

Apr 8, 2019

During a visit to Homs last week, the superior general of the Society of Jesus said that he would be... Read more

Remains of St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox church in Homs, Syria, 2015.

Syrian patriarchs condemn 'unjust aggression' of Friday allied airstrikes, ask for prayers

Apr 15, 2018

The airstrikes carried out by the United States, the United Kingdom and France against Syria on Friday constituted “unjust” and... Read more

A family of Syrian refugees who have been aided by Catholic Relief Services.

Catholic agencies concerned by drastic drop in Syrian refugees admitted to US

Apr 13, 2018

By Mary Farrow

Catholic leaders have said that the dramatic decrease in the number of Syrian refugees accepted by the United States is... Read more

Syrian refugees.

Syria is a new 'massacre of the innocents,' nuncio says

Mar 9, 2018

By Elise Harris

As the number of civilian victims in Syria's bloody civil war continues to climb, Cardinal Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio in... Read more

Annie Artin (R), and her mother, Silva Owadis, in Aleppo.

In Aleppo, a heroine of endurance

Feb 21, 2018

Annie Artin, 15, is a lonely girl who lives with her mother, Silva Owadis, 37, her grandmother, and aunt in... Read more

Damascus bombing kills 9 in Christian districts

Jan 22, 2018

By Christine Rousselle

An estimated nine people were killed in a bombing on Monday afternoon in Damascus. The shelling targeted the Bab Touma... Read more

Maronite Archbishop Samir Nassar of Damascus.

Syrian bishop narrowly avoids death in bombing

Jan 15, 2018

A bomb fell in the bedroom of the Maronite Archbishop of Damascus last week. He was spared death, he says,... Read more

A hospital in Aleppo.

In Syria there are more deaths from lack of healthcare than from bombs

Nov 17, 2017

By Elise Harris

Though the Syrian civil war has de-escalated in recent months, the Holy See's nuncio to the country says its problems... Read more