With Assad’s fall, Syria’s papal nuncio prays for nation’s reconciliation, new prosperity

Cardinal Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Syria, told Vatican News he hopes the war-torn nation will “move toward reconciliation” and at least “some prosperity” under democratic rule, just hours after former Syrian President Bashar Assad fled Damascus for Russia.

Assad and his family are now in Moscow and have been granted asylum there, according to state media in Russia, a key backer of the Assad regime.

A lightning offensive by rebel groups ended the 50-year authoritarian rule of the Assad family 8 December, while leaving the conflict-torn nation, mired in 13 years of civil war, at a crossroads. Among the concerns are the fate of Christians in the Muslim-majority nation.

Cardinal Zenari told Vatican News that Aleppo’s bishops had met with rebels, who have expressed a desire to “respect the various religious denominations and Christians.”

Michel Constantin, regional director for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association-Pontifical Mission in Lebanon and Syria, told OSV News in a 8 December email, “As for the situation of the Christians all over Syria, we have been in contact with many of our partners, and all information received says that the rebels have sent many messages to all minorities to reassure to them that the goal is to turn over the Assad regime and not to (seek) revenge from anyone.”

Cardinal Zenari told Vatican News that “beyond reconciliation, we hope Syria can also find some prosperity because people have reached their limit,” with people “unable to survive in the country as it had become.”

He also expressed hope the international community would help build “a new Syria based on democratic principles.”