“For me, returning home is like being reborn. I can’t even begin to describe the joy I am feeling," - Elias Ghattas.
In Syria there is no place for the usual consumerist frenzy, so the lights of the Christmas tree and the Christmas crib have once more become a sign of salvation. Aid to the Church in Need charity, which works with people in Syria, stated that many families there are in makeshift shelters, just like the Holy Family in Bethlehem.
Two Syrian surgeons will explain how Irish and EU sanctions have caused Syria’s hospitals to degenerate to a pitiable state where scores of women and children die every day due to the lack of commonplace medicines.
Irish government urged to formally recognise genocide as criteria under the UN Convention have been met in Syria and Iraq: Aid to the Church in Need.
“The underlying religious dimension of the attacks was shown by the targeting of Christian settlements and desecration of churches": ACN.
Christians pray that God stirs the "consciences of the leaders of powerful nations to work for the peace Syrians long for".
“The Custody [of the Holy Land] does not forget that other religious are still missing in Syria and invites everyone to continue praying for peace.”
Fr Jacques Mourad released after five months as Pope says he is following with great concern what is happening in Syria, Iraq, Jerusalem and West Bank.
Christians in Quaryatay have been living in fear of IS since May this year, when Fr Jacques Mourad, the Syrian-Catholic priest responsible for Mar Elian convent, was kidnapped.
"If the West helps moderates in Syria in a direct way, it is helping ISIS in an indirect way.
Franciscan Order lost contact with Fr Dhiya Aziz, parish priest at Yacoubieh, during the afternoon of 4 July and they believe he was taken by militants.
“We priests are fully aware of the risks we run, but we cannot do otherwise than remain alongside the Syrian people, both Christians and Muslims.”
Warning that West's "indifference" to plight of Christians is compounding the crisis.
Fr Frans van der Lugt stayed with Christians unable to flee conflict.
British government questioned as to what it is doing to stop the flow of weapons into Syria.
