Cor Unum to host meeting on Syria crisis

(Vatican Radio) On Friday, May 30, the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum " will host a coordination meeting between the Catholic charitable organizations that operate in the context of the Syrian crisis.

The meeting, in which they have given their support to 25 organizations operating in Syria and in the Middle East, will be structured in two phases: during the morning , after the introduction of Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of " Cor Unum , "who will coordinate the work , there will be a report from the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Speakers will include Archbishop Mario Zenari , Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, and Bishop SE Antoine Audo , president of Caritas Syria. Finally, the activities carried out at the information office in Beirut, set up last year to collect and distribute data on the work of Catholic organizations will be presented. In the afternoon, the practical aspects of cooperation between the various parties in Syria and neighboring countries will be the focus of attention .

The objective of the meeting, in line with the path taken in the last two years by the Holy See, and as a result of the meeting of 4-5 June 2013, organized by the Pontifical Council, is to make an assessment of the work done so far by the Catholic charitable organizations in the context of the crisis, highlighting critical issues and identify priorities for the future.

Syria is the centre of attention of the international community to the continuing humanitarian crisis that has unfolded as a result of the war. The Holy See, together with diplomatic activity , through the network of Nunciatures , relationships with the local churches and the work of Catholic charitable agencies, actively participates in the programs of aid and humanitarian assistance.  According to available data, it’s estimated the crisis lead to the deaths of about 160 thousand victims , and left more than 2 million Syrians refugees, the major part in countries in the Middle East and the Mediterranean , and about 6 million internally displaced persons.