H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), issued a statement on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, expressing deep concern for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, which persists more than a decade after the outbreak of conflict. Mgr. Crociata: “Christians communities are an integral and essential part of the history and culture of the region for centuries”.
Mgr. Crociata acknowledged the immense suffering of the Syrian people and shares their hopes for a future marked by peace, dignity and justice.
Special attention is drawn to the plight of Christian communities, described as “an integral and essential part of the history and culture of the region for centuries” and now “struggling to maintain their historical continuity in their homeland”. The bishop warned that losing these communities would be a tragic loss for Syria, the region and the world.
The President of COMECE urges the EU and international community to recognise the vulnerability of religious minorities and to take concrete actions for their protection. Mgr. Crociata, on behalf of the bishops of the European Union, also calls for long-term strategies that:
- provide humanitarian support: sustained funding via trusted partners for food, shelter, healthcare and education;
- support economic recovery: gradual easing of EU sanctions and create a framework allowing private sector engagement with proper safeguards;
- foster equal citizenship: include minority communities in the constitutional process and reconstruction efforts;
- promote dialogue, reconciliation and healing: avoid revenge, implement a legal framework for transitional justice and foster dialogue to heal societal divisions.
COMECE reaffirms the Church’s commitment to supporting Syrian refugees and displaced persons and calls on the EU and its Member States to “also work to create conditions that allow the safe and voluntary return of refugees and their families to their homes.”
This statement follows a series of policy initiatives by COMECE at the EU level, highlighting the crucial role of faith-based actors in the country, advocating for a peaceful transition and promoting long-term resilience.
Source: https://www.comece.eu/