New appeal of Francis, who invites Catholic Charities to continue in their work. The Church is close to the Christians of the Middle East, "especially in today's difficulties." “Heartfelt” prayers for those who suffer, he says at morning Mass.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Support for the international initiatives that seek to end the Syrian conflict was expressed today by Pope Francis, who has asked the world to "facilitate humanitarian aid to refugees and displaced Syrians, aimed primarily at the good of the person and the protection of his human dignity ". This latest appeal, following on from Sunday,  came during the Pope's meeting with the Catholic charitable organizations for the crisis in Syria, in the living room of the Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican.

"Faced with the continuing violence and abuse I strongly renew my appeal to peace," he said, then recalling the commitment of Benedict XVI for "dialogue and reconciliation," the mission of Cardinal Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, in those areas and the contribution of the Synod Fathers in October. He recalled his appeal, on Easter Sunday, when asked for peace " I asked for peace "above all for dear Syria, for its people torn by conflict, and for the many refugees who await help and comfort. How much blood has been shed! And how much suffering must there be before a political solution to the crisis is found".

"In recent weeks - he added - the international community has reaffirmed its intention to promote concrete initiatives to bring about a fruitful dialogue designed to bring an end to the war. These initiatives are to be encouraged, and it is hoped that they will lead to peace". And "besides the pursuit of a negotiated solution to the conflict, I ask for the provision of humanitarian aid for the displaced and refugees, and Syrians who have lost their homes, showing in the first place the good of each human person and guarding their dignity".

For her part, "feels herself called to give her humble yet concrete and sincere witness to the charity which she has learned from Christ, the Good Samaritan. We know that where there is suffering, Christ is present. We cannot pull back, precisely from those situations where the suffering is greatest. Your presence at this coordinating meeting demonstrates your will to faithfully continue this precious work of humanitarian assistance, in Syria and in neighbouring countries which generously receive those who have fled from the war". For the Holy See "the work of Catholic Charities agencies is extremely significant" because  aid goes beyond "ethnic or religious affiliations" in the most direct way it offers "to contribute to peace and the building up of a society open to all different components. "

A thought, finally, "the Christian communities inhabiting Syria and the Middle East." "The Church supports the members of these communities who today find themselves in special difficulty. These have the great task of continuing to offer a Christian presence in the place where they were born. And it is our task to ensure that this witness remain there. The participation of the entire Christian community to this important work of assistance and aid is imperative at this time".

Pope Francis also spoke of suffering at morning Mass in Casa Santa Marta, when, commenting on the story of Tobit and Sarah, from the first reading of the day, he noted that "complaining to God is not a sin." There are so many people, he noted, that live borderline cases: malnourished children, refugees, terminally ill. In the Gospel of the day, there are the Sadducees who present to Jesus the difficult case of a woman, who is the widow of seven men. Their question, however, was not posed with sincerity: "The Sadducees were talking about this woman as if she were a laboratory, all aseptic - hers was an

moral [problem]".

"When we think of the people who suffer so much, do we think of them as though they were an

, pure ideas, 'but in this case ... this case ...', or do we think about them with our hearts, with our flesh, too? I do not like it when people speak about tough situations in an academic and not a human manner, sometimes with statistics ... and that's it. In the Church there are many people in this situation."

In these cases "we must do what Jesus says, pray: "Pray for them. They must come into my heart, they must be a [cause of] restlessness for me: my brother is suffering, my sister suffers. Here [is] the mystery of the communion of saints: pray to the Lord, 'But, Lord, look at that person: he cries, he is suffering. Pray, let me say, with the flesh: that our flesh pray. Not with ideas. Praying with the heart".

Finally the Pope explained "Prayer always reaches God, [so long as] it is prayer from the heart." Instead, "when it is [an abstract exercise], such as that the Sadducees were discussing, never reaches him, because it never goes out of ourselves: we do not care. It is an intellectual game." In conclusion, Pope Francis called on the faithful to pray for those who live dramatic situations and who suffer as much as Jesus on the cross, who cry, "Father, Father, why have you forsaken me?" Let us pray - he concluded - "so that our prayer reaches [heaven] and let it be [a source of] hope for all of us."

 

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